Further to news that Canadian governments seem willing to pledge money to save Montreal's F1 race, it has emerged that Bernie Ecclestone has now decreed a looming deadline.

According to the Canadian national daily The Globe and Mail, a source close to the negotiations has revealed that the F1 chief executive has told officials "they must conclude everything before the end of this weekend".

The source added: "It does not sound like they will have six weeks to find the 'save the GP' solution."

It is expected the cost of reviving the event, held annually for decades at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on Ile Notre Dame, is at least $20m.

A new promoter from the private sector must also be found.

Source: GMM