Bernie Ecclestone says he lacks enthusiasm to expand Formula One in the USA despite the size of the country's potential market.

The US Grand Prix returned to the calendar in 2012 and the fourth race at the Circuit of the Americas outside Austin is set to take place next weekend. A deal for a second race around the streets of New Jersey fell through in recent years, and while Ecclestone recognises the significance of the American market, he says he lacks enthusiasm for growing the sport stateside.

"We ought to try to be for a little bit in America, but it's hard for me because I'm not very enthusiastic about America," he told Russian broadcaster RT.

"The biggest problem with America is they believe they are the greatest power in the world. Not in reality, but in belief. It's difficult because they are sort of isolated -- they are a big island -- and they are slowly starting to learn about what other people in the world do."

With more and more races taking place on government-funded circuits in new territories, Ecclestone reiterated his belief that F1's European heartland no longer holds the same appeal it once did.

"Europe is a thing of the past anyway," he added. "It will be a nice pace for people from China or here in Russia to visit to look at how the old times were. It's not going anywhere."