Canadian Grand Prix to go ahead in 2017

The mayor of Montreal has announced the city will remain on the Formula One calendar in 2017.

A Canadian flag at the 2016 Grand Prix in Montreal

The mayor of Montreal has announced the city will remain on the Formula One calendar in 2017.

The future of the Canadian Grand Prix in the city had been in doubt, with minimum upgrades to infrastructure at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve required by next year as part of the contract keeping the race in the city until 2024.

An asterisk had been placed next to the race in the provisional 2017 calendar released in September, describing its status as "subject to confirmation".

However, it now appears the grand prix will go ahead as expected in June, despite the fact the requisite works are not likely to be completed until 2019.

"Agreement in principle with FOWC and Octane," Montreal's mayor Denis Coderre tweeted on Monday, referring to the sport's owners and the local race organisers respectively.  

"There will be a Grand Prix of Canada in 2017. Formula One, for me, is extremely important and it's part of the essential major events that make up Montreal," Coderre was later quoted as telling reporters.

Francois Dumontier, president and CEO of Octane, added in a statement: "Montreal and Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve produce one of the most exciting Grands Prix of the season.

"In 2017, everyone will have even more good reasons to be there since we'll be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the inaugural Canadian Formula One Grand Prix."

This year's Canadian GP was won by reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton, who will vie with Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg to claim the title in the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.

It was announced this week Malaysia will not seek to extend the right to host a race at Sepang beyond the expiry of the existing deal in 2018.