Vijay Mallya (right) has been a major player in India hosting a Grand Prix

India's debut on the Formula One calendar has been put back by a year to 2011, the sport's commercial impresario Bernie Ecclestone has announced.

Construction on a new circuit 30 miles south-east of the Indian capital Delhi will start next month and finish in time for the start of the 2010 season.

But Ecclestone said at the Singapore Grand Prix: "2011 is what I want".

Abu Dhabi will make its debut next year in a 19-race schedule while South Korea and India had been mooted for 2010.

Race promoters, the Indian Olympic Association, announced in November 2007 that Formula One management had approved a site in Noida, a surburb on the outskirts of Delhi.

606: DEBATE Have your say about India's Formula One prospects

And Force India team owner Vijay Mallya - who has championed India's prospects for hosting a Grand Prix race - said he expected the work to be completed on schedule.

"From my information, even though I am not building the track, the track will be ready for 2010," the billionaire told autosport.com.

"But as you know the F1 schedule is decided by Bernie and I guess everyone has to accept what Bernie decides.

"If he has decided that there are other races that need to be pursued and there are other races he wants for 2010, then I guess that is it, isn't it?"