On November 18, Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone issued an ultimatum to the organizers of the Circuit of Americas in Austin, Texas, that was supposed to host F1’s return to the U.S. Ecclestone had said at the time that they had a week to get their act together and solve their problems.

Yet the deadline has expired and nothing has changed. Ecclestone, however, decided to give Austin another week to secure a deal for hosting the 2012 Formula 1 U.S. Grand Prix.

“The deadline hasn’t been met, so we’re still trying to make it happen”, Ecclestone told Associated Press on November 30. “They need to get some money and a pen as soon as possible. Deadlines are terrible things because people always go to the end of the deadline. But if it isn’t all signed before the World Motor Sport Council meeting, it can’t happen.”

The meeting, which will ratify the 2012 F1 calendar, is scheduled for December 7. “They are struggling to get the financial side sorted out – that’s the problem”, Ecclestone added admitting that he would like to see the world’s top motorsport series return to the U.S. next year: “It would be a loss to everyone if it didn’t happen. I’d rather see the race happen than not.”

Ecclestone might be pushing hard for one, or even two races in the U.S., having also signed a deal for a 2013 street race in New Jersey, because he believes that F1’s days in Europe are numbered.

As he told Spanish newspaper Marca, he thinks that in the near future few races will be held on European soil: “I think in the next few years, Europe will be left with only five races”. Despite the fact that all teams participating in the championship are based in Europe, Ecclestone says that Europe is finished. “It will be a good place for tourism but little else. Europe is a thing of the past.”

Expanding Formula 1 to new, growing markets has been Ecclestone’s goal for many years. He has partly achieved it by including more races in Asia, such as India, South Korea and Singapore, and signing a contract for a Russian GP to be held at Sochi in 2014.

So, what about the continent that for six decades has been the home of the sport? “It used to be”, he responded, adding that apart from Russia, other possible venues could be South Africa or Mexico.

Story References: Fox Sports & Gazetta

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