Bernie Ecclestone has speculated that the French and British grands prix may have to share time on the Formula One calendar if the sport continues to grow in popularity.

According to US business reporter Bloomberg, Ecclestone has said that some of the weaker events may have to make way for those in emerging markets, no matter how established they may be. With San Marino off the calendar next year, and Germany's two events condensed to one, with Hockenheim and the Nurburgring alternating as host venue from next year, Ecclestone admitted that there could be no sentiment when it came to deciding which races remained on the schedule.

The 76-year old overseer of F1's transformation into a commercial giant has had a long-running difference of opinion with the organisers of the British Grand Prix, and remains concerned that little progress appears to have been made with regard to securing the finance to overhaul Silverstone, which he has repeatedly likened to 'an old house in need of repair'. If work is not forthcoming, he insisted, the oldest race on the world championship calendar may have to forsake its place.

"The French are happy to do that," he is reported as saying, noting that the Magny-Cours event has struggled to finance itself, "As for the British race, I don't know what they want - and I'm not sure they do."

Interviewed after leaving an international sports marketing conference in Madrid, where he had pointed out that there would not necessarily be a second race in Spain just to cash in on world champion Fernando Alonso's popularity, Ecclestone did confirm that, following the success of grands prix in China and Bahrain in recent years, events in India, Korea and Russia remained likely.

"India is a country that is probably going to grow quicker than China," he noted, explaining that, despite an initial project in Hyderabad having 'petered out', another venue had been secured, "We had to make sure we found the right place in India, and we have."