( CNN ) -- In October 1985 , the Formula One circus arrived in South Africa to race at Kayalami . Apartheid -- which had put an end to almost all other sporting events in the country -- did n't deter F1 , even if both the Ligier and Renault teams refused to race . Marlboro removed its sponsorship from the McLaren cars of Niki Lauda and Alain Prost , and various governments tried to stop their drivers racing . Sound familiar ? Although South Africa during apartheid and Bahrain now are two completely different political situations , you ca n't help but wonder whether F1 has moved on at all in the last 27 years . The view of Formula One Management 's chief Bernie Ecclestone that the elite division of motorsport does n't do politics seems somewhat out of kilter . The civil unrest in Bahrain -- and the political implications of F1 racing there -- has led to UK politicians asking for the race to be canceled . On April 13 the sport 's governing body -- the FIA -- announced that the race would go ahead despite continuing conflict between Shia protesters and the Sunni government . The decision was met with shock from F1 fans around the world . `` Imagine we said , 'No way are we going , ' - would the problems stop ? '' Ecclestone told the BBC at last weekend 's Chinese Grand Prix . `` The answer is no because they are not protesting about F1 and that 's why we are going to Bahrain . '' Ecclestone -- never one to kowtow to convention -- may have missed the Shia protesters carrying toy machine guns and wearing motor racing overalls . He may also have missed the banner reading `` Stop racing on our blood '' and the government 's `` UniF1ed '' campaign . No , there is not political unrest because of F1 , but the sport is being used as a political tool and could be used as a stage upon which to be heard . Ask any F1 sponsor why they are in the sport and they will tell you about the amazing global platform that it provides . The same argument , understandably , applies to protesters who want to make a point . `` I do n't see lots of protests throughout the country , '' economist and former Bahraini politician Jasim Husain told the UK Press Association . `` But yes , the fear is there that we could see some casualties . So it 's now a challenge for the security forces who have to handle things properly . They should avoid using force . '' In a press conference on Friday , Bahrain 's Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Ahalifa expressed his reasoning behind the race going ahead . `` I think canceling just empowers extremists , '' he said . `` I think for those of us that are trying to navigate a way out of this political problem , having a race allows us to build bridges across communities and get people working together . '' Three-time F1 world champion Jackie Stewart is a firm believer that sport can unite people . That may be so , but only if the sport in question is neutral . F1 most certainly is n't in this case . The Bahraini government not only owns the Sakhir track , but it also invested millions to build the circuit before the first race there in 2004 . It also owns a stake in Britain 's McLaren , one of the participating teams , so it 's clear why many Shia protesters are so against the event taking place . The FIA has had people in Bahrain monitoring the situation for some time now , and the teams and drivers have said that they trust its decision to race in the Middle East kingdom , even if some teams have taken extra security with them . But , with four Force India team members being close to a petrol bomb after leaving the track on Thursday , it 's clear that the extra security is not enough . Indeed , two members of the team have since requested to return home . There are also reports that a Williams employee has quit over the situation . Of course , nowhere is safe -- a mad priest managed to run onto the track during the 2003 British Grand Prix -- but surely a sport should not be competing in a country where its participants are anywhere near a petrol bomb ? The safety of the teams and the island 's citizens should be put before a sporting event . `` It is obviously not right that this sort of stuff happens , '' Force India driver Nico Hulkenberg told reporters on Thursday . `` We are here to race . The F1 business is about entertainment , and these sort of things should not really be happening to us . Whether it is right or not I do n't really know . I am not a politician , I am a Formula One driver . '' Other drivers have remained quiet -- and very neutral -- on the subject . As many will remember , the 2011 Bahrain Grand Prix was at first postponed and then canceled due to riots and the much-publicized `` Day of Rage '' on February 14 . So what has changed this year ? And why is Formula One able to race ? Last year the British foreign office raised its evaluation of the threat level in the country and with that came insurance problems for the teams . There was pressure from the FIA and FOM to cancel the race , which the Bahraini government duly did . By doing so it missed out on an estimated $ 480-800 million of investment that would have come from hosting it . The race looks as though it will go ahead and , with the circuit being based in the desert , it should be easier than some to keep secure . However , if something does go wrong then it is going to be extremely hard for F1 to recover its integrity . The South African Grand Prix was canceled immediately after that 1985 race by the FIA 's then-president Jean-Marie Balestre . It did n't return until 1992 , once apartheid had ended . F1 did learn from its mistakes all those years ago , even if it was too late for many . The fact that it seems to have forgotten that lesson now is baffling many fans around the world . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Ed Foster .
last year 's Bahrain Grand Prix will take place amid a backdrop of anti-government protests . The Formula One race was canceled 1985 due to a civil uprising in the Middle East . The situation mirrors what happened in Sunday with a race in apartheid-era South Africa . Foster : F1 chief is wrong when he says that sport and politics do not mix .