Tuesday 12 May at 06:00 : May 12 (GMM) Britain could be absent from the calendar for a year and then return in 2011, Bernie Ecclestone said after a meeting with Donington's Simon Gillett

The F1 chief executive's interview with The Times newspaper followed speculation that the Leicestershire track, scheduled to take over from Silverstone as British grand prix host next year, may not be ready

Ecclestone said one possibility is a stay of execution for one year followed by a delayed race debut in 2011

"If the work at Donington is not finished in time, we would be happy to skip a year," the 78-year-old Briton said, ruling out speculation that Silverstone could host the 2010 race instead

"I don't want to lose the British grand prix, that's the last thing we want to do, but we aren't going to Silverstone for sure," added Ecclestone