Lewis Hamilton is "good for business", but Bernie Ecclestone says he knows why the championship leader is not popular among his peers.

"He is good for business," the 77-year-old F1 chief executive told Auto Motor und Sport. "Out of the car he is a little bit arrogant.

Bernie Ecclestone has called for a single F1 "referee" to issue football-style red and yellow cards.

After the spate of controversial driver penalties this year, the F1 chief executive believes there is room for an improved system.

Bernie Ecclestone on Friday said it is not inconceivable that Canada could win back its spot on the formula one calendar.

The F1 chief executive recently cancelled the Montreal race's contract for 2009 and beyond.

The future looks brighter for Toro Rosso.

Earlier this year, the partly Gerhard Berger-owned squad was in serious trouble, given Red Bull's dithering support and the looming end of the era when using a customer car is allowed.

Flavio Briatore has tipped McLaren's Lewis Hamilton to "throw the title away again".

The Renault boss recalls his astonishment of one year ago, when with a 17-point advantage with two races to go, the then rookie Hamilton ceded the championship to Kimi Raikkonen at the final hurdle.

Force India will keep the same race drivers for the 2009 season, high profile team co-owner Vijay Mallya said on Friday.

"I've made it quite clear I'm happy with Adrian (Sutil) and Giancarlo (Fisichella) and they will continue through 2009," he told reporters in Shanghai.

Neither Lewis Hamilton nor his main challenger Felipe Massa fully deserves to be 2008 world champion, former title winner Jacques Villeneuve says.

"The one who really deserves it now is Kubica," the French-Canadian, who last contested a grand prix in 2006, told the BBC's radio Five Live.

F1's governing body is pressing ahead with controversial plans to introduce a standard engine formula by 2010.

In a statement on Friday, the FIA confirmed it has opened a tender process "for the appointment of a third party supplier of engines and transmission systems" for the entire grid between 2010-2012.

Moments after the FIA press conference on Thursday, Fernando Alonso told his Spanish compatriots what he really thinks of Lewis Hamilton.

Last week, the 27-year-old Renault driver admitted he would like to help Felipe Massa beat Hamilton, his teammate during an acrimonious tenure at McLaren last year, to the title.

Felipe Massa, who is Lewis Hamilton's chief rival for the 2008 world championship, has declined to join in the current drubbing of the McLaren driver.

Ferrari's Massa, who less than a week ago was accused by the Briton of deliberately driving into him at Fuji, hailed Hamilton as a "very strong" competitor.

Bernie Ecclestone has ordered a 'hard but fair' conclusion to the 2008 championship, as rivalries threaten to spill onto the circuit with two races to go.

Title leader Lewis Hamilton at Fuji accused his opponent Felipe Massa of deliberately crashing into him.

F1's governing body says it is "gravely concerned" with the news that the promoter of the race at Magny Cours has cancelled the 2009 French grand prix.

France's motor racing federation FFSA this week said it will no longer back the event for financial reasons.