Ecclestone working to secure HRT future

"HRT have got problems. I will sort it out," Ecclestone told the Telegraph in an interview on Friday. "I'd like to see 12 teams finish the season because they have made the commitment to come in.

"We might lose one of them. But I'm doing my bit to make sure it doesn't happen."

HRT made it to the grid in Bahrain after an eleventh-hour rescue deal, but arrived in the first race without any testing and has struggled at the back of the grid.

In the interview, Ecclestone also admitted he has been disappointed with Lewis Hamilton's performances so far this year, despite the Briton's charges through the field in some races this year.

"Hamilton has been disappointing," he added. "He was unlucky in the last race but that's what happens when things are going badly for you.

"People praise his overtaking but you don't get any points for passing cars."

The F1 boss said he was missing former Renault boss Flavio Briatore from the sport, while he conceded the FIA was now quieter without Max Mosley.

"Yes, I miss having Flav about the place. He is good company and he was good for this sport. People associated him with F1. He was a character. We miss Max, too. Max got a lot more right than wrong.

"The biggest problem that Max had was that he couldn't package things in a nice way. You tell people to take it or leave it and it doesn't work. It's quieter now at the FIA, which is how we like it."