Bahrain still wants to host F1 race this season

Bahrain says it still wants to host a rescheduled Bahrain Grand Prix in the "near future" but did not set a date for the race.

The announcement on Saturday comes a day before Bahrain's federation is supposed to advise the FIA on a new date, and it accompanied a statement by Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone expressing support for Bahrain.

Ecclestone also did not mention a new date, only saying that "restoring the Bahrain Grand Prix has been of paramount importance."

The Bahrain GP was scheduled to be the F1 season-opener on March 13, but was canceled in February by Bahrain's crown prince after widespread anti-government protests in the country.

The F1 season began instead at the Australian GP in Melbourne on March 27.