Ecclestone open to Oz GP cancellation
F1 Supremo, Bernie Ecclestone says he is open to cancelling the annual Australian Grand Prix if city officials are unwilling to support the race, after calls from Melbourne's Lord Mayor last week to cancel the race. Any settlement would likely result in a penalty running well into the tens of millions for Melbourne with five years still to run on the deal, but would allow Ecclestone to fit another country onto the bulging calendar.

“If the mayor thinks I'm cranky, I can probably be able to help him by proving it,” Ecclestone told the 3AW radio station. “If he's not happy with the event in Australia, if he wants to cancel the contract, we'd be happy to talk to him about that.

“If he wishes to cease having the event in Melbourne, I am happy to discuss that with him. We have a contract – we don't break contracts.”

Cape Town launch GP bid
As Melbourne look to end their association with F1, another southern hemisphere city are hoping to attract F1 for the first time. Cape Town has launched a bid to win a place on the Formula One calendar in September 2013 and host the first South African Grand Prix since 1993.

Bernie Ecclestone has invited the Cape Town Grand Prix Bid Company to present their proposal to him in London in the coming months, a meeting they hope will take place before the season-opening Bahrain GP. The company was founded in 2007 following a 12-year research and development phase.

The 5.3 km street track will take in some of the city's most recognisable landmarks, including the Cape Town Stadium, Table Bay Harbour and the V&A Waterfront. Organisers are hoping the race will resemble the Monaco Grand Prix.

“Green Point is ideal for a street circuit like the one in Monaco because we have so many beautiful natural sights in the area,” said chief communications officer Esther Henderson. “So while Monaco is the 'French Riviera' we can have the 'African Riviera' in Cape Town.”

A good money week for Sauber
Sauber has announced new and extended sponsorship deals this past week, with Mad Croc and Tequila Jose Cuervo pledging their support to the Swiss team for the coming year. Mad Croc was a sponsor for Sauber in 2010 but has increased its involvement for 2011 meaning its logos will be added to the air deflectors on the sides of the C30s.

The one-year deal with Mexican tequila brand Jose Cuervo means their logos will be visible on the sidepods and on the top of the front nose of the Ferrari-powered C30.