FORMULA One boss Bernie Ecclestone says he "doesn't need'' the Australian Grand Prix on the F1 calendar.
With debate about the value of the race once again rekindled, Ecclestone has strongly hinted Australia would be one of the first races to be axed as he eyes new, more lucrative markets.
Ecclestone says his Formula One Management company, which controls the contracts for all grands prix, does not want to expand the program so inevitably some races will go.
"Twenty races is enough,'' Ecclestone told German media, in reference to this year's schedule.
"If we have some new races, some others will fall out - we don't need Australia, for instance ...,'' he said.
The issue of whether Victoria should bid to extend the current contract when it expires in 2015 was resurrected recently when Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle questioned its value for money.
Ecclestone said he had always backed the staging of an Australian round but following Doyle's comments appears to be having second thoughts.
"We have always been happy because I've always thought we had big, big support in Melbourne and there's no reason why we should leave,'' Ecclestone has said.
But he said he would have no hesitation in walking away if the race proved unpopular.
Tonight, Australian Grand Prix Corporation actiong chief executive Andrew Westacott said there was a long queue of cities waiting for the chance to reap the benefits of Formula 1.
"What Mr Ecclestone needs is 20-22 cities that want and support Formula 1. He wants to hold the races in cities that love F1. Why wouldn't he?'' Mr Westacott said.
"Australia is very fortunate to be one of only 19 countries in the world who have the privilege of hosting a Formula 1 Grand Prix in 2011.
"Siince the Lord Mayor came out to 'kick start debate' fans have re-affirmed their support for the event. Grandstand ticket sales are up 35 per cent from last year, corporate sales are the best they have been in more than two years and sponsorship is going strong.''
Grand Prix Corporation chairman Ron Walker has called Doyle's remarks "sad'' and said the international exposure the event generated was priceless.
"This is an annual debate now and it's a sad thing for the mayor of a major capital city to come out as publicly against a major event like the grand prix,'' Walker has said.
"It's still the largest sporting event on a single day basis in Australia ... it gets a huge overseas audience.
"I'm saying it's great value because it propels Melbourne's image abroad in a way that you can't buy.''
Geelong is the latest potential venue being discussed as an alternative to Albert Park and in a bid to retain the event. Both the city and Avalon have been touted as suitable.
Walker and Westacott have urged Geelong Mayor John Mitchell to lobby for the race.
"Geelong is a good market for tickets and we have always treated it with respect,'' Walker told the Geelong Advertiser.
"If we had it at Avalon it would promote the tree tops of rural land while having it in Geelong would showcase the rest of the city and Melbourne to the rest of the world.''
Westacott said Geelong was in a good position to challenge other parts of the world like Texas, Poland and Russia who all want the Grand Prix.
He said the Esplanade would provide the ideal backdrop and surpass some views where the race was held around the world.
