Bernie Ecclestone has said that it is still possible Formula 1 could be set to lose the popular and traditional Brazilian Grand Prix.

Recently, the former F1 supremo revealed that he had been put in charge of staging talks with Brazilian officials about rescuing the embattled race at Interlagos.

"Chase [Carey] asked that when I went to Brazil, 'Would I speak to the president about the race', which I had done before," Ecclestone told Brazil's UOL Esporte.

"But it seemed pretty obvious to me that he had several other things to worry about than Formula 1. So we went to the mayor of Sao Paulo, but he does not want to spend a single dollar - he wants to sell the circuit."

Indeed, Ecclestone was subsequently linked with a potential bid to personally buy Interlagos.

"[The mayor] asked me if I would be interested. We can get him to agree that when the sale happens, whoever buys it will have to keep the Formula 1 circuit," he explained.

"Then it's a case of finding an organiser for the race, which is a bit more difficult.

"So I think that if we can't do anything, we will lose it, for sure."

However, the report adds that Interlagos race promoter Tamas Rohonyi was in Paris this week for contract talks with the FIA.

Ecclestone said: "The race will be there 100% until 2020."

This year's Brazilian Grand Prix will be held on November 12.