International Automobile Federation (FIA) President Max Mosley is cool on the idea of staging a Formula One Grand Prix in Rome.
Local authorities are weighing up a proposal by former Formula Two driver and world superbike promoter Maurizio Flammini to stage a race through the streets on the outskirts of the Italian capital.
Any plan would have to be approved by Formula One's commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone.
"I would be surprised if it happened," Mosley said in an interview published in Thursday's La Gazzetta dello Sport.
"I know how much effort and money it costs to organise a street circuit race in Monte Carlo. And Italy has lots of valid permanent circuits.
"Anyway it's Ecclestone's problem, not mine."
Mosley added that Formula One's governing body had not yet received a request from Rome to hold a race.
Italian media reported that an expert sent by Ecclestone surveyed the proposed site of the race in the EUR district on Wednesday.
Italy, home of Ferrari, has a grand prix at Monza each year and held two races until the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola was axed in 2006.
Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo has said a Rome Formula One Grand Prix would be unthinkable unless it was merely a one-off.
Mosley also said he was less than keen on Ecclestone's proposal for the drivers' championship to be decided by Olympic-style medals rather than points.
"The medals are an obsession of Ecclestone's. I don't see how they would encourage overtaking."
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