Melbourne’s traditional place as the opening round of the World Formula One Championship may be under threat with Bahrain rumoured to replace the Victorian capital as the season opener.

According to SpeedTV.com & Autosport, team bosses have been shown a provisional calendar for 2010 in which Melbourne becomes the second round of the season.

Melbourne GP boss Ron Walker has always put great value on Melbourne opening the season, often claiming his “special” relationship with Bernie Ecclestone would ensure the Australian race the prestigious first round.

Media Spokesperson for the Australian Grand Prix Corporation Laura McLachlan said that the Corporation had no comment to make at this stage “until the FIA releases the official calendar”

Ms McLachlan said that the Corporation had been assured that their preferred dates of March 25-28 had been approved but that there had been no word on whether the race would be Round One or Round Two.

The move to make Bahrain the first round of the series in early March could also have an effect on plans by V8 Supercars Australia to stage the opening rounds of their 2010 series at Bahrain and Abu Dhabi.

A move by Formula One to Bahrain would suit Bernie Ecclestone who has long complained that the time of the Melbourne race made it a poor start to a new season.

Despite a move to a later start time for the Albert Park race, ratings for the Bahrain race are expected to be much higher due to a more viewer friendly time-zone in Europe.

F1 insiders say that Ecclestone is discussing with teams the possibility of starting the season with the Bahrain Grand Prix on March 14, feeling that the late March date for Melbourne is too late to start the season.