Formula 1’s owners Liberty Media is in talks with Saudi Arabia about a grand prix in the Kingdom for 2021.

The Times reported on Monday that talks between Saudi officials and F1’s owner have taken place several times.

The paper suggested a Saudi race could become a reality as soon as 2021, with the schedule already expected to stretch to a record 22 races in 2020.

Formula One and the teams are discussing major sporting and technical rule changes from 2021 and Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto said in Hungary at the weekend that could see an expansion to 24 races.

“If you look at 2021, at the moment we are discussing for 24 races,” said Binotto.

The Middle East already hosts two races, at Sakhir in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina, with lucrative long-term contracts in place.

Saudi Arabia already features on the all-electric Formula E calendar and hosted its first race last year on a street circuit at Ad Diriyah, near Riyadh.