New one-year deal to run until the end of 2017.

NBC Sports Group has retained the US rights to Formula One for a further year, after agreeing a new deal with series supremo Bernie Ecclestone.

The broadcaster has added another season to its contract, which had been due to expire at the end of this year, and will therefore continue to show Formula One action until the end of 2017.

NBC has been a Formula One broadcaster since 2013. Its extension comes with Ecclestone said to be working on a longer term TV deal in the US, possibly with Fox Sports, which owned Speed Channel, Formula One’s previous American rights holder, before closing down the network in 2012.

“NBC’s contract was meant to be up at the end of this year but we have given them another year,” confirmed Ecclestone. “We are in talks with several stations so we will have to wait and see.”

NBC plans to feature more than 200 hours of Formula One coverage this season. NBC, NBCSN and CNBC will combine to present all 21 races live, with NBCSN showing 14 events, NBC four, and CNBC three.

The 2016 Formula One season got underway in Australia last weekend, with Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg claiming the first victory of the year.