With the opening round of the 2008 Formula One season fast approaching, attention is now focusing on its host, Melbourne. But while all the teams and drivers prepare for the Australian Grand Prix, others are wondering how much longer the city, or even the country, will continue to have it.
F1's perennial dictator, billionaire Bernie Ecclestone, has fallen out of favour with the Melbourne race and is negotiating with cashed-up countries to replace it. The rapid expansion of the sport means that some races have had to be sacrificed, such as the San Marino Grand Prix last year and even the US Grand Prix this year.
The money being thrown at 77-year-old Ecclestone reflects the commercial appeal of F1, but where does this leave Melbourne – which has hosted a Grand Prix every season since 1996?
The current contract ends in 2010, but until then, taxpayers will have to fork out $35 million each year for an event a lot of Melburnians don't even want.
There is an argument that the millions spent is the price you pay to be regarded as the events capital of the world. Melbourne has fulfilled the potential of the race, but in recent years its perceived value has come into question.
DATE GRAND PRIX LENGTH ================================= Mar 16 AUSTRALIA 307.574km Mar 23 MALAYSIA 310.408km Apr 06 BAHRAIN 308.238km Apr 27 SPAIN 307.104km May 11 TURKEY 309.396km May 25 MONACO 260.520km Jun 08 CANADA 305.270km Jun 22 FRANCE 308.586km Jul 06 GREAT BRITAIN 308.355km Jul 20 GERMANY 308.863km Aug 03 HUNGARY 306.458km Aug 24 EUROPE 310.080km Sep 07 BELGIUM 308.052km Sep 14 ITALY 306.720km Sep 28 SINGAPORE 309.087km Oct 12 JAPAN 305.416km Oct 19 CHINA 305.066km Nov 02 BRAZIL 305.909km
Ecclestone wants Melbourne to host a race under lights (which Singapore will do for the first time in September), but Australian Grand Prix Corporation Chairman Ron Walker has said this is simply unfeasible for Melbourne.
Hinting at Ecclestone's desire for more European-friendly television viewing hours, this year's Australian GP will start at 3.30pm instead of 2.00pm.
If Melbourne does not eventually heed to Bernie's wishes for a proper night race, he will discard it altogether. Ecclestone is a ruthless businessman and he will follow the money, wherever it is.
Meanwhile, Formula One management has signed a deal with India to build a track and Russia is also on its way. "It's down to how long it takes them to get the circuit ready," Ecclestone told British newspaper The Daily Mirror last month.
Asia's untapped audience is very attractive to Ecclestone and Australia may not be part of the picture. The Australian Grand Prix's once-secure spot on the calendar is on shaky ground and Bernie's in pole position to take full advantage.
Feeds