© MTV3
Finnish television broadcaster MTV3 has decided that they will not be sending their F1 reporting team to Bahrain, despite the FIA's announcement that the Bahrain Grand Prix will go ahead next week. MTV3 will instead provide coverage and commentary on the race from Helsinki. Under normal circumstances, MTV3's F1 news crew will travel to each grand prix to cover it live.
"We felt the best alternative was to broadcast from Finland, although the State Department has softened its travel advisory on Bahrain. Formula 1 events get so much attention internationally that the possibility of problems may arise," said MTV3's sporting director Tatu Lehmuskallio.
MTV3 F1 producer Sasha Ikonen admits that the team were in a difficult position because for this year's F1 coverage, a lot of effort is put into the pre-race show, which is broadcasted from the paddock.
"It's too bad that we will have to settle for more limited coverage now, because Kimi's (Raikkonen) return has dramatically increased the interest in Formula 1. However, we did not want to risk the safety of our staff", said Ikonen.
