Weeks before Melbourne kicks off the 2012 season, Bernie Ecclestone has warned that the event is on notice.

It's a ploy we've seen so many times before, most notably at Silverstone, and usually, but not always, it works. While the F1 supremo continues to try to fool eager nations into thinking that Formula One is the USP (unique selling point) that will make them instantly attractive to tourists and investors, those already on board, that he thinks he can extract that little bit more from, are toyed with, like a cat with a mouse.

Speaking to The Age, Ecclestone, whilst admitting that Melbourne has a valid contract for the next couple of year, warns that organisers had either accept his demands or face losing the event.

"We have a contract which we will respect, so up until 2015 we are in good shape," he says. "After then, we really don't know. If we were to have a divorce from our friends in Melbourne we would probably be walking away from Australia. Because I can't see how Adelaide could make it happen, or anywhere else, if Melbourne can't.

"The race itself, from our point of view, is probably the least viable of all the races we have," he adds. "We have other races ready to take the place of Australia, which we don't want to happen. But it would be wrong of me to have to report to our board, 'Terribly sorry about this but we have to walk away from wherever to retain Australia'.''

While money is an issue, it always is, Ecclestone has made no secret of the fact that he wants Melbourne to become a night race. Something that is never likely to happen.

Having issued the threat, Ecclestone, true to type, went on to sweeten the local fans, tipping Mark Webber for a better season this time around.

"I just hope, I really, really, genuinely hope that Mark has a good crack at the title this year because it would be nice to see," he said. "I even think perhaps, in a funny way, Sebastien would be happy as well if he won the title, provided he couldn't."