May 14 (GMM) HRT "have got problems" and will struggle to make it through the 2010 season.

That is the admission of F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone, who told the Daily Telegraph he is working to help the new Spanish team.

"HRT have got problems. I will sort it out. I'd like to see 12 teams finish the season because they have made the commitment to come in.

"We might lose one of them. But I'm doing my bit to make sure it doesn't happen," said the 79-year-old Briton.

In the same interview, Ecclestone also spoke about Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Jean Todt, Max Mosley and Flavio Briatore.

On Schumacher, despite his teammate Nico Rosberg outpacing him in practice on Thursday, Bernie said the seven time world champion looks in "good shape".

"People were too quick to write him off. Why pick on him? His return has been brilliant for formula one."

On the other hand, Ecclestone thinks 2008 world champion Lewis Hamilton has been "disappointing" so far in 2010.

"People praise his overtaking but you don't get any points for passing cars," he said.

Flavio Briatore is watching from the vantage-point of his luxury yacht in Monaco, and after a party on Thursday night Ecclestone admitted he regrets the Italian's paddock ban.

"He is good company and he was good for this sport. People associated him with F1. He was a character. We miss Max, too. Max got a lot more right than wrong."

On the other hand, Ecclestone sounded happy with the quieter role being played by Mosley's successor Jean Todt.

"We don't need the president getting involved in stuff that doesn't concern him," he said.

"The biggest problem that Max had was that he couldn't package things in a nice way. You tell people to take it or leave it and it doesn't work. It's quieter now at the FIA, which is how we like it."

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