Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone is refusing to give up on the possibility of a return to South Africa in the future.

The country last staged a Grand Prix in 1993 at Kyalami, and the circuit would need development to match current F1 standards, while a previous bid to race on the streets of Cape Town was turned down by the city council.

However, Ecclestone is still keen on adding a South African round to the schedule at some stage.

He told R-Sport: "We're in the middle of trying to do something in South Africa.

"We used to have a race there and it would be nice to get back there again, to that part of the world."

Next year's schedule will see a record 21 races take place, including the return of the Mexican Grand Prix.