It was revealed yesterday that the organisers of the Spanish GP had signed an extension of their current contract to host a round of the Formula One World Championship until 2011.

At a time when the sport is looking further and further afield, as it seeks to escape Europe's strict anti-tobacco laws, this seemed like good news.

Then it was revealed that the contract, and indeed the entire future of F1 in Europe, depends on the European Union's stance on tobacco.

"This contract is a normal standard contract that we have throughout Europe," said Ecclestone, "and it has a provision concerning tobacco legislations. We must bear in mind that these contracts are subject to what is going to happen with the legislation on tobacco.

"I hope we can get that all sorted out so we don't have to keep disappearing out of Europe," he added.

Originally the European Union agreed a deal with the FIA that would see tobacco advertising banned from 2006, however it then amended the ruling and declared that tobacco advertising was to be banned from mid-2005.

"We have to wait and see," relied Ecclestone, when asked if the future of F1 is in jeopardy. "It's such a pity that each country can't make its own decision on the tobacco."

Five of the current ten teams rely on tobacco sponsorship, and its unlikely that any of them can come up with alternative sponsorship, certainly to match the amounts they are currently receiving.

Although it appears to be a case of stalemate as far as the EU and the FIA is concerned, Ecclestone remains hopeful that a solution will be found, and revealed that he is willing to try various measures to appease the EU.

"We've always said that if tobacco advertising is so powerful and it makes people start smoking when they see a sign, we should put up another sign just as large that says 'if you smoke you'll die,'" he said.