The Australian Grand Prix was threatened late on Saturday with expulsion from the Formula One circuit by Bernie Ecclestone, the billionaire boss of the sport, just seven days before the 2008 season gets under way in Melbourne.

Ecclestone, 78, raised the spectre of Australia losing its traditional opening race of the F1 season following a clash with the new Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, over transforming Melbourne's big event into a night race to satisfy demands for media coverage from the European market.

"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," said Ecclestone.

"At the moment, it is ridiculous that people are asked not to sleep in order to see it live. That can't carry on. The alternative is to pull the race completely from Australia. I've spoken to Kevin Rudd and he's told me it would cost too much to re-stage the race, so I guess that's it. We won't be going to Australia for too much longer."

The Australian Grand Prix moved from Adelaide to Melbourne in 1995 and it is believed to have three years left on its contract.

Ecclestone's threat is tied in with his plans to expand the F1 circus in Australasia.

He wants to add races in South Korea and India by 2010, expanding the world championship schedule to 20 events.

He also wants to transform the Malaysian Grand Prix in Sepang into a night race, following the inaugural Singapore event this September, which will become F1's first night-time race.

Ecclestone added that the British and French Grands Prix may soon move from their famous venues at Silverstone and Magny- Cours.

Silverstone's contract runs out at the end of next season and even though the British Racing Drivers' Club, who own the circuit, have revealed computerised development plans, Ecclestone said: "They know exactly what they have to do at Silverstone and they have until the end of next season to do it."

Magny-Cours is expected to lose the French Grand Prix, but a street race in Paris is looking a distinct possiblity.

Get a free £25 bet on this weekend's FA Cup and Premier League games with Betfair