Bernie Ecclestone says 2012 calendar will have 19 races if Austin is dropped

Amid ongoing uncertainty about the fate of the Austin event, Ecclestone said in Brazil on Sunday that there will be just 19 events next year if the race is removed at next month's meeting of the FIA World Motor Sport Council.

"Everybody will be happy with that I believe," said Ecclestone when asked about the prospect of there being just 19 races. "The teams complain there are too many races, so we will solve the problem."

Ecclestone reiterated that Bahrain and Korea would both be a part of the 2012 schedule, despite uncertainty about the events.

On Korea Ecclestone said: "Yeah, we have a contract with them. They have got a contract and we will be there."

Regarding Bahrain, Ecclestone said he had not yet read the 500-page report into the unrest that was published this week, but said there were no doubts the race would go ahead.

"We have a contract with Bahrain. We will be there."

When asked about the latest news on Austin, Ecclestone said: "I've no idea. He [circuit chief Bobby Epstein] was supposed to have come back with confirmation on things which he has failed to do."