Ecclestone wants short-life tyres

Ecclestone believes that tyres should last no more than 100 kilometres - which would ensure at least two pitstops in every race.

"People want more overtaking," Ecclestone said in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport. "I have a proposal: tyre sets that can be used for a maximum of 100 kilometres, with the one used in qualifying to be used in the first part of the race.

"This way we'd have more tyre changes at different times and there would be more confusion. The best races are the messy ones."

Ecclestone's comments come in the wake of Pirelli being chosen to supply F1's tyres from the start of next season.

With that deal now done, Ecclestone has also revealed that Hankook and Continental were also involved in discussions about supplying rubber next year.

When asked how the Pirelli deal had come about, Ecclestone said: "With a phone call before Christmas. Michelin had already got in touch then, and I had also contacted Avon and the other big manufacturers.

"In the end five were left: the ones I mentioned, plus Hankook and Continental. All of them liked F1 but none could enter in 2011. The choice has fallen on Pirelli.

"Every team will pay 1.35 million euros per year for the tyres. But Pirelli will pay for track advertising, so the teams in some way will get back part of the investment."