F1 shareholders not showing support for U.S. Grand Prix, says Epstein

Formula One is heading into its winter sojourn with a cloud hanging over the future of the United States Grand Prix.

It also emerged this week that the promoter of the popular Canadian Grand Prix is behind in its payments to some suppliers.

"Montreal is one of the best races on the whole calendar," world champion Lewis Hamilton said on a post-season personal visit to Canada.

"It has also been a very good race for me for many years, so I hope that continues and we can keep it. It's very important for Formula One because there are so many good Canadian fans."

The bigger uncertainty is about next year's U.S. Grand Prix, with the Austin round attracting mere provisional status on the 2016 calendar due to a funding dispute with the Texas government.

Bernie Ecclestone said on British television this week that he thinks the organizers will "solve their problems" so that the U.S. Grand Prix takes place.

But Circuit of The Americas' chairman Bobby Epstein is not sure Ecclestone's bosses are as supportive.

Epstein told the American Statesman newspaper that while F1 as an entity has "helped us a couple of times," the fact that it is owned by CVC is an issue.

"You've got a large investment fund behind it that's trying to get the most money it can," Epstein said. "They want to maximize earnings and helping the guys in Austin might not be high on their list."