Montreal working on 2017 race fix

Oct.3 - Moves are afoot to secure Montreal's place on the 2017 F1 calendar.

The FIA published a race schedule for next year recently and the Canadian grand prix was marked only as subject to confirmation.

Indeed, tickets are yet to go on sale for the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve race, and promoter Octane admitted that "negotiations" with Bernie Ecclestone are taking place.

Now, the Quebec newspaper La Presse claims that the City of Montreal could be to the rescue, with the problem being a delay in planned renovations to the circuit's ageing paddock.

The report said the City is set to inject $4 million into the delayed and over-budget project, which is now set to be complete by 2019.

"In return," La Presse said, "the City is negotiating with F1 to extend the Canadian grand prix by five years, from 2025-2029.

"The City of Montreal and F1 have agreed to this solution in principle, but the documents have not been formally signed," the newspaper added.

Officially, however, Montreal mayor Denis Coderre is not commenting, as his office insisted it "does not comment on discussions on this issue".

But Coderre "is confident that Montreal will be included on the official calendar," his office added.

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