Austrian GP May Return, Says Ecclestone

Austria could make a future comeback on an expanded Formula One calendar despite Sunday's race being seen as the country's last, Bernie Ecclestone said today.

The race at the scenic A1-Ring has been presented as a farewell after the Formula One supremo told Austrians in January that the Grand Prix would be dropped from next year's Championship.

New circuits being built in China and Bahrain are due to make their debuts next year.

"We don't know at the moment if it's going to be the last one," Ecclestone said on Friday. "This may not be the last. We'll see. We didn't leave out of choice. Let's see what happens with our friend Red Bull, see how he makes what he does here and we'll see. Maybe we are going to come back."

Dietrich Mateschitz, owner of the Red Bull energy drink business and sponsor of the Sauber team, has plans to create a motorsport academy at the A1-Ring and to invest up to 300 million euros over three years in developing the area.

The Austrian has also talked in the past about backing an American Formula One team.

Ecclestone said in January that Austria would lose its slot on the calendar because of the country's backing of EU legislation against tobacco advertising. But he said on Friday that the calendar, normally 17 races but 16 this year as a result of the Belgian Grand Prix being dropped, could be expanded.

Ecclestone said teams, some of whom are opposed to a calendar of more than 17 races, might have to put up with more. "Maybe yes, maybe they'll have to," he said.