"F1 will return to Canada" - Ecclestone

Le Circuit Gilles Villeneuve will return to the Formula 1 calender for 2010 after the grand prix took an exodus from race precedings this year.

There's a lot been going on and off the track this mid-season break and what with Piquet Jr finally being given the boot by Briatore and Schumachers possible on/off return, we begin to look ahead to the 2010 season already before a 2009 champion is even near to being crowned.

F1's Commercial rights-holder, Bernie Ecclestone stated that an agreement had been reached for the Canadian Grand Prix to return.

Ecclestone told Swiss magazine, Motorsport Aktuell yesterday that the potential deal would keep F1 in Montreal for at least the next seven years.

A formal agreement has yet to be reached, but with the deadline for the 2010 calendar to be finalised fast approaching, it's thought the deal will be concluded in the coming weeks.

Despite this, Montreal's Mayor, Gerald Tremblay has told Canadian media that negotiations are still ongoing and that Ecclestone has not yet offered his previous offer - the main reason why the race is missing from this years list.

It was reported that 175 million was sought by F1 officials to keep the race in Montreal for 5 years, a figure the city's Government declared was too much.

Whatever happens it is clear that with no grand prix in North America this year F1 has been left with a gaping void that could only be filled with a return to the Continent sooner, rather than later. It appears the former now looks to be on the cards.

It's thought that Ecclestone has come under sever pressure this year from sponsors and teams to re-instate a race in North America as both miss out on a key market to target.

A return to Canada will also see teams and drivers face up against the feared "Wall of Champions" that has ended race weekends for drivers such as Hill, Schumacher and Alonso in recent times.



However in the same interview Ecclestone ruled out a return to the Indianapolis Speedway circuit in the United States that has been off the calender since the last race in 2007, where Lewis Hamilton took his second career win.

In a blunt sum up Bernie said "Forget Indianapolis. We're not going back there"

However with American constructor USF1 lining up on the grid for 2010, I can't see it being too long before the United States hosts another race, whether it be at Indianapolis or not. All eyes on 2012 maybe?

In other track news for next season, it's been confirmed that Donington Park have stepped up their efforts to ensure they stage next year's Formula 1 British Grand Prix.

Simon Gillett, CEO of Donington Ventures Leisure Ltd has turned to businesswoman Jayne McGivern, credited with turning around the Wembley Stadium project when it ran into trouble, to ensure that Donington Park is ready to host the race next year.

If it's not ready, then Silverstone have already made it clear they are ready and waiting to mop up fans and host again in 2010.

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Suggestion also came came out today from Eccelstone that Belgium's Spa-Francorchamps circuit and Germany's Nurburgring (formally where the European Grand Prix was held, before it's move to Valencia last year) could alternate for a single annual event.

Spa boss, Andre Maes bit back via the Belgian media later on by pointing out that the circuit has a contact to hos the race annually until 2012.

Would a bi-annual race actually work? How upsetting would it be if you turned up the wrong year? Personally I would pick Spa over Nurburgring any day. Hosting such classics's as in 1998 when Damon Hill lead a Jordan one-two in the wet cast in the memory and the velocity of racing up and down the hills, through the forest settings, it's one no grand prix fan should be denied any year!

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Images from canpages.ca/blog (pic from stefike 13) and robertbonnett.wordpress.com, Video from youtube.com supplied by Motorsports45