Murray won't be gone in a hurry

F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone wants Walker to work for his digital television operation and the veteran commentator also has offers to write books, columns and features and also to work for various Formula 1 sponsors.

And he may even continue working for ITV in a different role.

"I can put my hand on my heart and say I don't not knowing exactly what I will be doing next season, " he admitted. "But I have so many people asking me to do things I would like to do, that involve me being at GPs, that I cannot believe I will not be in the paddock doing something.

"But I will not be at a race unless I have something to do," he added. "I think the sight of someone from the past walking around the paddock looking for someone to talk to is pathetic and I won't be like that.

"Bernie has said very forcefully 'you're not going to retire, you are going to work for me.' It's a lovely compliment, but I don't know if that is true - or not just yet."

And Walker could even have a key role in the vanguard of Formula 1's global sponsorship push.

"The hospitality Paddock Club is a very important place where chief executives, managing directors and the decision makers of companies who provide the life blood of Formula 1 - sponsorship - come, and I have been asked to explain and entertain and talk to them about Formula 1.

"There is nothing I would love more. I love talking to people and can talk to them knowledgeably and with passion. Doing that will enable me to keep in touch with the sport that matters so much to me.

"ITV have also made it very plain they want to talk to me about continuing to participate in some role, but I genuinely don't know what the role is or what it might be.

"Then there are the offers to write books, write articles for magazines or work for other television channels. The one thing I am sure is that next year I am not going to be at a loose end doing the garden and hoovering the house. I am enthusiastic enough, fit enough and able enough to be able to do a lot of things that people want me to do."

Walker is already writing a book about his F1 career. It will be finished before the start of next season, but he will not go on a world tour to promote it until the season is over - leaving his options open for other projects.