Bahrain Grand Prix will go ahead on April 22, says Formula One's governing body the FIA A press release was issued just after midnight UK-time, in the dead of night in Bahrain, perhaps in an effort to take the sting out of the announcement, although social media was immediately abuzz with messages of disgust from disgruntled protesters. Bahrain's authorities - including former assistant Met commissioner John Yates who is acting as an advisor to the Interior Ministry - had assured Formula One personnel that disturbances were limited to outlying villages where groups have clashed with police, who have been forced to combat petrol bombs with water cannons, tear gas, stun grenades and rubber bullets. It added: "All expressed their wish for the grand prix to go ahead in 2012 and since then the FIA has kept in close touch with all these stakeholders. Away from the public eye, the FIA has received regular security briefings from the most senior diplomatic officials based in the Kingdom, as well as from other independent experts. The statement emphasised that the FIA's responsibility was to ensure "he safety of the public, officials, drivers and teams is secured at all times during the event." The FIA's announcement came ahead of the planned meeting on Friday between Bernie Ecclestone and all 12 teams in the Shanghai paddock as concerns regarding the race, from both a security and an ethical perspective, linger in the background. Red Bull's Mark Webber admitted on Thursday that security in Bahrain would be stepped up for teams, although he added: "I accept not everyone can have that, and that doesn't make me feel comfortable.