Bernie Ecclestone has warned the Australian GP organisers to convert the grand prix into a night race or risk being dropped from the calendar.
This year's Championship will see F1's first ever night race take place in Singapore as Ecclestone attempts to liven up the action and make the races more European time zone friendly.
The F1 supremo is keen to see more events take place under lights and has warned Australia that it's current F1 deal, which ends in 2010, could be its last if the organisers opt against a night race.
"In Melbourne, if we were to continue to be there, we would have to have a night race," he told Australian newspaper the Sunday Telegraph.
"That would be the only option."
However, Ecclestone may be persuaded to extend the Melbourne race's contract should the Australian government step in to help cover costs.
According to the F1 supremo, the sport could make more money out of holding races in other countries, such as Europe where all the teams are just a short flight away from the venues.
"Maybe we don't want to be in Australia," he added. "Our costs are very high in Australia and we get a lot less money. It's bloody bad for us.
"We've got quite a few places on the list that would like to have Formula One and, as it seems your guy (Victorian Premier John Brumby) down there doesn't want Formula One, we can make him happy and make the other people happy.
"It comes down to, is it bad for Melbourne to spend the money they spend and is it good for us to be there because the amount of money we get from Melbourne is less than most of the places in Europe where we can more or less be there in an hour
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