Formula 1 magnate Bernie Ecclestone has admitted that he would prefer to have just 10 teams in the championship, rather than the 12 last season.

Next season looks likely to contain just 11 teams after HRT failed to pay the entry fee for next season.

Ecclestone, however, has said that he never wanted 12 teams to compete.

"I'd rather have 10," Sky Sports News quotes Ecclestone as saying. "I never wanted 12.

"It's just that 10 is easier to handle, for the promoters, for transport. We'd rather have ten... so long as we don't lose Ferrari."

Ecclesone recently said that he would like 20 grands prix in the calendar next season.