Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone is to wait until after the weekend before deciding on whether to cancel next month's season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.

The deteriorating political situation in the island kingdom forced the cancellation of the GP2 Asia Series races scheduled to take place at the Bahrain International Circuit this weekend.

A decision on whether it goes ahead rests with Ecclestone, FIA president Jean Todt and the race organisers in Bahrain, as well as Crown Prince Salman ibn Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifa.

Ecclestone said: "It's not good is it? We'll have to keep our eye on things and make a decision quickly. I spoke to the Crown Prince this (Thursday) morning. He doesn't know any more than you or I, but they're monitoring exactly what is going on. Next week we will make a decision on what we are going to do."

According to reports, four people were killed and 300 injured on Wednesday night as riot police stormed a camp of demonstrators in the capital Manama.

Batons, tear gas and rubber bullets were used on the 2,000 that were sleeping at the time in Pearl Square, prior to a battalion of 50 tanks moving in to patrol the streets.

The scenes followed two deaths earlier this week as protesters seek political reform in a country where the Sunni Muslim family has ruled a predominantly Shi'ite population for the last 30 years.

Given the ongoing unrest, serious question marks now hang over the viability of staging the curtain-raising F1 event, due to take place at the BIC from March 11-13.

Ahead of the grand prix, F1 is due to descend on Bahrain in less than a fortnight's time for the final pre-season test session, scheduled to run from March 3-6.

A decision as to whether that goes ahead could be made as early as Friday given all the teams are in Barcelona for the penultimate test at the Circuit de Catalunya.