Mateschitz not ruling out Austrian GP return to F1 calendar

Dietrich Mateschitz, the billionaire owner of Red Bull energy drink conglomerate, is not ruling out a future return to the Formula One calendar for his native Austria.

Earlier, the former Austrian grand prix venue A1-Ring - now refurbished and renamed 'Red Bull Ring' - was touted for the twentieth race date on the 2013 schedule.

However, Bernie Ecclestone ruled out the venue in Spielberg, a city with a population of about 5 000, on the basis that the local hotel infrastructure would not be able to cope.

But Mateschitz is quoted by Speed Week: "There is much in favour of a grand prix in Spielberg.

"Many conditions and factors could justify it," he added, "but whether it will ever happen again falls into the realm of speculation, and that's something [that] this company doesn't do."

The Red Bull Racing and Toro Rosso team owner, however, sounds serious about his grand prix aspirations, insisting that if he ever agrees a deal, it would have to be for "at least three to five years". (GMM)

Subbed by AJN.