Ecclestone: Bahrain can block Qatar race
The F1 supremo recently described Qatar as a nation "ready" to host the sport, with both a circuit and street race being evaluated.
But Ecclestone has revealed that Bahrain, on the roster since 2004, can effectively block additional races from being held in the region.
"It was an idea I thought would work," Ecclestone commented.
"But I've got a bit of a problem which nobody knows about really but I'm sure they soon will.
"I made a deal with the people in Bahrain and they said, 'If we are going to be something new in this area, which we are, will you give us a guarantee you won't put another race on in the area, in the Gulf?'.
"I said yes. Typical Ecclestone handshake deal with the Crown Prince."
Ecclestone added that Abu Dhabi had to seek permission from Bahrain prior to its arrival in 2009.
"I explained to them the position that I was in and said you'd better ask the people in Bahrain if they are happy," Ecclestone said.
"If they are happy, I'm happy. If not, we won't. So they got together and that's what happened.
"Then this other race [in Qatar] has been proposed and I put the people together and said 'Can you sort this out between you?' and they haven't managed to do it."