( dpa ) - This weekend's season-opening Melbourne Grand Prix may be the last in Australia's second-largest city, organizers said Monday.
Formula 1 head Bernie Eccelstone has warned that Melbourne could lose the event to Russia, India or Korea unless it was run at night so European audiences could see it live.
"The only way the race could stay in Melbourne, or anywhere else in Australia, is if it is staged during the night so that the public in Europe can watch it," Ecclestone reportedly told Britain's The Mail On Sunday.
He said he had phoned Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and threatened Australia with expulsion from the championships unless his demand was met.
Organizers said they had a compromise plan that might save the event.
Victorian state government spokeswoman Vanessa Schulze said the state government "wants to continue holding the event in Melbourne, however, it is not prepared to do so at any cost."
Schulze said that the "future of the Formula One Grand Prix beyond 2010 will be considered with regards to whether the event continues to be good for Victoria and delivers value for money."