Montreal has been warned to spend around $15 million on the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve or risk losing the Canadian grand prix.

La Presse reports that Bernie Ecclestone has said only a major redevelopment of the circuit will lead to talks about a new contract beyond 2014.

The report said that, in light of the F1 chief executive’s warning, Montreal mayor Gerald Tremblay has appealed to higher levels of government for the necessary money.

“Negotiations are underway between the three levels of government and the bodies of formula one”, the report said.

Race promoter Francois Dumontier told RDS: “It’s premature to talk about this.

“There are still two years to go on the current contract. We have started talking, but that it’s out now I find excessive. Honestly, I don’t know where it’s come from.”

He added: “Given that the permanent installations of the circuit, including the control tower and the garages, are nearly 25 years old, it is likely that their repair is an important element in the negotiations for an extension to the current agreement.

“But it seems to me to be premature to talk specific sums.”

The calamitous Bahrain grand prix saga has not jeopardised the island Kingdom’s future on the F1 calendar.

That is the strident claim of Bernie Ecclestone, after the F1 chief executive and FIA president Jean Todt displayed rare unity as they insisted the country’s civil and political problems would not affect the grand prix.

But amid the bubbling Bahrain saga, Ecclestone had suggested that Bahrain might face trouble when it comes to negotiating a new contract, with the existing agreement only set to extend for three more years.

However, when asked by Reuters if F1 is going to keep returning to Bahrain despite this year’s troubles, Ecclestone insisted on Sunday before leaving the Persian Gulf: “Absolutely. Forever. No problem.”

Like Todt, he even played down the damage done to F1′s reputation this weekend.

“I think it’s good because people talk about things, you know. You know what they say — there is no such thing as bad publicity,” said Ecclestone.

In truth, reputation damage has undoubtedly been done. But Roger Benoit, the veteran correspondent for the Swiss newspaper Blick, admitted he is dismayed with how politics interfered with sport so strikingly this weekend.

“On all continents, somewhere, all hell is breaking loose. And as a formula one reporter, you’re flying around this globe two or three times a year,” he wrote.

“We go to countries that are politically explosive. Where human rights are violated, where poverty reigns.

“But we hardly talk about it — not in China, India, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore or Brazil. In 2014, we’re going to Russia.

“Years ago, our circus happily danced around in apartheid South Africa, and the military dictatorship of Argentina.

“Formula one is pure entertainment. Detached from the problems of the world. But here, in Bahrain, every reporter entered the political field, whether he liked to or not,” wrote Benoit.

So that is why Ecclestone is unapologetic, after championing the Bahrain grand prix.

“Because, basically, the problems they have in Bahrain have nothing to do with F1,” the 81-year-old told El Pais newspaper.

“The relevant agencies gave the nod as far as security was concerned, and I think it is clear that they were not wrong.”

He also sees no problem with F1 being used as a political tool.

“Governments want to have an F1 race for the same reason as they want the Olympics. We come to agreements with the promoters and, if that’s good for the country, fine,” said Ecclestone.

 The future of the embattled Korean grand prix looks safe for now.
The Korea Herald reports that organisers of the Yeongham event have reached a deal with Bernie Ecclestone to reduce the race fees.

Completing its bespoke circuit at the last minute, South Korea joined the calendar in 2010 but soon bemoaned the huge costs.

Sunday’s media report said organisers will save more than $20 million this year by successfully negotiating a reduced race commission and annual television license fee.

The new deal will last until the end of Korea’s race contract, in 2016.

The Korea Herald said organisers paid almost $40 million to Ecclestone’s Formula One Management last year — a 10 per cent rise on 2010.

The new deal will see the 10 per cent increase scrapped, the report added.

“With the successful negotiation, we’ll be able to save a significant amount of money this year,” said organiser Kang Hyo-seok.

“It’s a still difficult situation, but we’re trying hard to improve it.”

 Bernie Ecclestone has played down the controversy over the future of Australia’s grand prix by daring organisers to walk away from the sport.
“When the contract comes up, they don’t have to renew,” the F1 chief executive, speaking from London, told local Fairfax Radio ahead of the 2012 Melbourne race.

“That is the nice thing. We are not going to force anyone into doing anything because we can’t.”

The current contract expires in 2015, and Ecclestone has offered to ease the taxpayers’ burden if race organisers agree to host the race at night, to better service Europe’s live television audience.

But the 81-year-old Briton is also furious, after a federal politician for the ruling Labor Party scorned the millions paid to Ecclestone in order to bankroll the billionaire’s flamboyant “bogan” daughter Tamara.

“Who was the halfwit that said these things?” Ecclestone told 3AW radio.

“You’re not a communist state there, are you? Any money that my children have got, they didn’t steal.

“I’d like him to say what he said to me face to face.”

The latest spat is yet another threat to the highly popular Albert Park race, with Ecclestone surmising: “From all the things I read that the government say, I don’t think that they want to continue.”

Australian driver Mark Webber hopes the race has a future.

“I don’t think it’s a gain to lose it, put it that way,” he said.

“It was successful in Adelaide and in Melbourne as well and it would be brilliant to keep it here for a long time yet.”

 Valencia president Alberto Fabra has admitted it is possible the Spanish port city will annually alternate its F1 race date with Barcelona.
Amid Spain’s worsening economic crisis, organisers of the Circuit de Catalunya’s Spanish grand prix last year proposed a Germany-style sharing of a single race date, alternating between the venues every year.

Valencia, however, turned down the initial proposal, but Barcelona officials this week suggested that talks are back on.

Indeed, Valencia’s regional president Alberto Fabra confirmed to EFE news agency on Monday that alternating with Barcelona “is one of the alternatives”.

He warned that an agreement “is not yet done”, because the issue will need to involve F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone over the course of “the coming weeks”.

“We’re still in negotiations, waiting for a proposal with Ecclestone,” added Fabra.

 Embattled Lotus will ask its formula one rivals for permission to conduct a three-day private test after it has resolved a chassis flaw.
The former Renault team pulled out of this week’s Barcelona test after the unspecified problem was identified early during the opening day’s running on Tuesday.

With pre-season preparations limited to just three tests in 2012, next week’s Barcelona running will be the last before the championship begins in Australia.

F1 race commentator Oskari Saari, working for the Finnish broadcaster MTV3, said Lotus has confirmed to him that it will seek permission to make up for this week’s lost running in the form of a three-day private test.

“As they are based in Britain, then you would think that it would be at Silverstone,” he said.

Recently at Jerez, Mercedes departed the opening pre-season test a day early and then made up for it with a private day of running at Barcelona on Sunday.

But Saari admitted it is possible the other teams will not be keen to allow Lotus to modify its programme, given the pace of the new E20 car at Jerez.

“However, I would imagine it is quite likely that the request will go through,” he said.

“Every now and then, every team sometimes needs a helping hand from the others.”

The future of the German grand prix at the Nurburgring looks set to race into the courts.
The Rhineland-Palatinate state this week said it intends to cancel the circuit operator’s lease, arguing that a bright future is “not possible” with the existing tenants.

Minister Roger Lewentz said he wants to personally take over the negotiations with Bernie Ecclestone about the future of the F1 race.

But according to the SID news agency, the operator Nurburgring Automotive GmbH (NAG) has announced it will fight back, including demanding “substantial amounts” from the government for the wrongful action.

“There is no reason for this extraordinary step,” NAG’s lawyer is quoted as saying.

The company’s spokesman said the situation is crucial to Germany’s future on the F1 calendar.

“Already, there are many candidates waiting for a (race) date to be available,” NAG spokesman Karl-Heinz Steinkuehler said.

“Without the Nurburgring, formula one would make probably only a guest appearance every two years in Germany, at the Hockenheimring,” he warned.

The minister Lewentz, however, said the government is ready for a fight, despite hoping for “an amicable solution” to the dispute with the operator.

“If not, a lengthy legal dispute cannot be ruled out,” he said. “We consider ourselves well prepared.”

Organisers of the inaugural Indian grand prix have sold 80,000 tickets ahead of Sunday’s race.
The capacity of the new Buddh circuit is 120,000, the AFP news agency said.

“We have sold close to 80,000 tickets which is pretty encouraging considering that its the first F1 race ever in the country,” said a spokesman for race promoter Jaypee.

“Of course we would have been happier had we sold off 90 per cent tickets because ticket sales are the only source of revenue for us. But there are still a few days to go and we are keeping our fingers crossed,” he added.

In a late bid to fill the circuit, tickets are now being sold at a discounted rate.

London’s Telegraph correspondent Tom Cary wrote on Tuesday that the Buddh circuit is “rough and almost ready” for Sunday’s race.

“But what do you expect?” smiled the country’s motor federation president Vicky Chandhok. “I think people anticipated worse.”

This weekend is proof that India, now a major economic player on the global scale, has also arrived in formula one.

“I would not put it past the (race promoter) Jaypee Group to start investing in a formula one team,” said Chandhok. “That may be the next step.”

Just over a week before the F1 circus is scheduled to congregate in India, Karun Chandhok is still waiting to hear if he will be lining up on the grid.
The Indian is Team Lotus’ reserve driver but boss Tony Fernandes has warned that he will not necessarily decide to replace one of the team’s regulars Jarno Trulli or Heikki Kovalainen so that Chandhok, 27, can contest his country’s inaugural F1 race.

“This is the most asked question to me right now,” Chandhok told the Times of India.

“Honesty speaking I don’t know what the team’s plans are. They haven’t made a decision yet and there are several factors that will govern the team’s decision which I can’t comment on.”

It is believed the hold-up is due to contractual negotiations, with Trulli, who sat out the Nurburgring for Chandhok in July, and Kovalainen signed up to contest every race on the 2011 calendar.

Sponsorship may be another issue.

Chandhok, who admitted the current waiting period is “agonising”, has practiced on Friday mornings ahead of the recent Japan/Korea double-header.

“As far as I am concerned, I have done the duties which the team has entrusted me with so far in the best possible way and have proven my abilities,” he said.

Force India is Nico Hulkenberg’s only chance to return to the formula one grid in 2012.

Last year’s impressive Williams rookie had to settle for the reserve role at Force India in 2011, including the opportunity to practice on most Friday mornings.

With current race lineup Adrian Sutil and Paul di Resta also in the running for next season, team owner and boss Vijay Mallya has said he will not make a decision about 2012 until mid December.

German Hulkenberg, 24, therefore said on Twitter this week that he is “not sure yet” if he will be able to call himself a F1 race driver once again next year.

“I hope I can race with Force India but the team will decide not before December, so I must wait,” he added.

According to Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, Hulkenberg must be hoping that his countryman Sutil cannot hold out until December and therefore decides to market his experience and personal sponsors Medion and Capri-Sonne elsewhere.

Mallya’s December deadline means that the options in his drivers’ contracts will by then have expired, but Sutil manager Manfred Zimmermann insisted recently: “We still have our destiny in our own hands”.

28-year-old Sutil has already visited Williams’ Grove headquarters but Zimmermann insisted on Monday that Force India is the first choice.

Auto Motor und Sport however said Sutil “has also been seen in the paddock in conversation with (Williams) team boss Adam Parr”.

For Hulkenberg, the only option is Silverstone based Force India.

He told the German magazine: “Everyone from Renault down wants to see money (from its drivers).”

He is referring not only to Renault and Williams but also F1′s newest teams including Virgin and HRT.

Korea is expecting a smooth running of its formula one race weekend next month.

Last year, when the new Yeongham circuit hosted the inaugural Korean grand prix, many visitors were disappointed with construction delays, poor management and the fact they had to stay in so-called ‘love motels’.

In response, local organisers Korea Auto Valley Operation (KAVO) was investigated and chief executive Chung Young-cho dismissed.

“Learning from last year, F1 organisers set out innovative ways of improving our management,” the Yonhap news agency said, quoting from a media statement.

“In terms of customer service, we expect this year’s F1 race to be much more satisfactory,” the organisers added.

Karun Chandhok has admitted he is hoping to race at Team Lotus in 2012.
While his countryman Narain Karthikeyan will be in action for HRT at India’s inaugural F1 race in October, Chandhok admitted he is unsure if he will also be on the grid in New Delhi.

He told the Hindustan Times that his real priority is 2012.

Reserve driver Chandhok, 27, revealed that he will appear in the green T128 for Friday practice a couple more times this season.

“(And) for 2012, I am looking at a potential full time race seat,” he said.

Chandhok insists, however, that he was signed by Team Lotus this year on merit, and that his sponsors have not guaranteed him a race seat next year.

“There’s no deal,” he said. “It’s just another wrong perception like the belief that I paid to get into Lotus.”

He said he will only earn his place based on his speed on Friday mornings.

“That’s a big internal assessment for the team. I also want to be on the grid after earning the respect of the team engineers and not just because I am Indian,” said Chandhok.

Paul di Resta’s manager has hinted Mercedes could be interested in signing the rookie Scot for 2012.

The comments by Anthony Hamilton on Tuesday follow Michael Schumacher’s reported admission in the Italian press this week that he is not sure “if my mindset is right for this team”.

“At some point we will evaluate whether I continue or stop,” said the seven time world champion.

Should the German return to retirement, di Resta – impressive on his F1 race debut with Mercedes-powered Force India this year – is considered the favourite for the seat.

He won the DTM championship with Mercedes last year and remains close to the German carmaker.

Said di Resta’s manager Hamilton, the father of 2008 world champion Lewis: “I’d like to think that there is an interest — Paul is a Mercedes protege.

“I’m proud of him. He will make a great replacement for someone at a top team.”

Christian Klien’s manager has admitted he would like to see the Austrian driver in consideration for the remaining F1 race seats in 2011.

Already hoping to secure the second race seat at HRT, 28-year-old Klien’s name has also been casually linked with Renault following injured Robert Kubica’s rally crash.

“Until now, HRT was the only team with a free cockpit,” Roman Rummenigge, who manages the former Jaguar and Red Bull driver, told the Austrian news agency APA.

Klien has also been a test driver with departed BMW and Honda, and was arguably the quickest of HRT’s multiple drivers last year as he sat in for the struggling Spanish team’s regulars on three occasions.

“After the drama with Kubica I must of course follow my duty as manager and also consider Renault as an option,” insisted Rummenigge.

However, Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport claims that of all the reported candidates, the favourite for Kubica’s number 9 cockpit is the grand prix veteran Nick Heidfeld.

The report said the 33-year-old was last week “on the verge” of returning to Mercedes in 2011 as reserve driver, “but since Robert Kubica’s accident, those plans have been postponed”.

Amid a controversy over the future of the Australian grand prix, it seems Bernie Ecclestone will attend the 2011 edition.

The F1 chief executive declared recently that F1 doesn’t “need Australia”, after Melbourne’s Lord Mayor and premier questioned the value of the Albert Park event for taxpayers.

The state Victorian government has since committed to the F1 race, but Ecclestone’s lack of enthusiam is symbolised by the fact that he hasn’t made the long haul to Australia for several years.

The local Herald Sun newspaper therefore interprets it as “a mercy dash” the 80-year-old’s plans to attend this March.

“I am sure that it is Mr Ecclestone’s intention to be in Melbourne,” a spokesperson for the Briton confirmed.