Feb.3 (GMM) Australian grand prix chief Ron Walker has played down Bernie Ecclestone's warning about the dubious future of the Melbourne race.



Ecclestone, F1's 77-year-old chief executive, was on Saturday quoted as suggesting the sport may move away from Australia after 2010 because the Victorian government, sponsors and manufacturers would prefer if the annual calendar spot was instead filled by Russia, India or Korea.



The British billionaire also said the only prospect for a new contract would be if Australian promoters agree to reconsider their reluctance to stage a floodlit race at night.



"I think this is just his first shot over the bow in his negotiations with the government on the renewal of the contract," Walker, chairman of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation, told the local news agency AAP.



In the Sydney Morning Herald, he is quoted as saying Ecclestone's comments will "blow over" and that the "negotiations will take place in (a) normal fashion".



Walker disagreed with Bernie's assessment that "your guy down there" - premier John Brumby - no longer wants a formula one race at Albert Park.



"The premier's been a great supporter of it ... but it has to add up in the eyes of the taxpayer," he added.



He acknowledges, however, that Brumby's support is not a given.



"All things have a used-by date sticker on them and maybe the government might say, 'Look it's been with us for 13 or 14 years or whatever it's going to be and it's time for a change', but we don't know yet," he said.



The Victorian major events minister Tim Holding said the government will not agree to staging a night race.



"We've made it clear we will not have a night race, Mr Ecclestone has made it clear he accepts that decision and, in fact, supports it," he told reporters.



"Any claim that the government does not support this event is just plainly wrong."