Ecclestone expects Tuesday decision

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has revealed the under-threat Bahrain Grand Prix could be moved to later in the calendar if pro-democracy demonstrations lead to it being postponed.

Ecclestone will leave a decision on whether it is safe enough for the race to go ahead to Crown Prince Salman ibn Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifa after violence in Manama.

Asked when a decision on the race's future would be made Ecclestone told BBC 5 Live's Sportsweek programme: "Probably Tuesday."

He added: "I haven't spoken to the Crown Prince this (Sunday) morning so I don't know what's happened there. If anybody's going to sort it out he's the guy to do it.

"He would decide whether or not it's safe for us to be there.

"Let's wait until Tuesday and see if this one's going to take place before we decide what to do. Maybe we could postpone Bahrain or run it later in the year."

Ecclestone ruled out the possibility of another promoter stepping in to put on the race in a different country on March 13, explaining that the timescale was too short.

"Well they're probably not ready, just to pop these things on just like that," he said.

"Let's hope it will be all right as it's already scheduled."