Alzayani has consistently stated he is confident that this weekend's race will pass off without any problems despite the reported threat of protests.

Formula One staff, including Williams driver Bruno Senna and Sergio Perez of Sauber, have already travelled to Bahrain and their arrival has passed off without incident.

And Alzayani insists that the decision to hold the race, which was confirmed recently by the FIA, was made after careful consideration and does not involve any element of risk or gamble.

"We've been in Formula One for seven years and we will be in it for much longer than that," Alzayani said.

"We wouldn't take a decision on a gamble. But it's a calculated decision, we've weighed up our options and we are committed to the Grand Prix and to its success.

"I don't think anything drastic will happen. It's not Syria or Afghanistan. I don't see why anything should happen this year that hasn't happened in the previous years.

Message

"I don't see any benefit for anyone personally attacking the media or the teams or anything. Even those who are protesting weaken their message if they do so. Why would you go and attack the media?

"I think they will probably look out for the media to try and get their message abroad, which is fine. Let them express their opinion."

There are ongoing reports of unrest in the Gulf state which some believe could spill over into the race weekend, but Alzayani believes the risk of that happening is not elevated in Bahrain compared to anywhere else.

He added: "It could happen in any country in the world. Why is it any different here? Look at what happened in London when we had a guy jump into the Thames and stop the Boat Race.

"Do you want to tell me there is no threat on the Olympics in London? Should we should stop the Olympics?

"What's the difference? There are idiots everywhere in the world. Does that mean we just sit at home and lock ourselves up?

"So let's have the event, I'm sure it will be a good event, a safe event. I can assure you most of the people who are hesitant or reluctant about Bahrain will change their perception within the first day of being here.

Perception

"We've seen it, and people who have already been to Bahrain and were worried and everything like that, they left with a different perception."

Although he does admit that problems still exist in Bahrain, Alzayani feels F1's visit will help put to rest what he feels is a false perception of events in the country.

Alzayani said: "Will this year be exactly like it was in the past years? No. We know that for a fact and I'd be lying if I sat down and told you it would be the same and everything's normal.

"The country has gone through a tough year, we are still wounded in some aspects or another, and we are on the way to regaining our health.

"But the race will be positive to the country, positive to the economy which has suffered a lot in the last year and a half, and it will put things in perspective.

"A lot of the damage that has happened to Bahrain post the events of last year have been driven by perception, by people not necessarily writing what they see or hear.

"For us, we will be happy for the teams and the journalists and the media to come to Bahrain and see it and then write about it. Things are not 100 per cent, but they are not as bad as people make them out to be."