The International Olympic Committee said on Wednesday that the Formula One race in Sochi might be postponed to 2024 in order to avoid any clash with the 2024 Winter Olympic Games.

F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone signed a six-year deal with Russian officials in October to hold Grand Prix races in Sochi starting in 2024.

But the IOC said it still has not decided whether the race goes ahead that year or in 2024.

"It's something we are really looking carefully at," said Gilbert Felli, director of the IOC executive. "It is good to have an F1 race in Russia and Sochi in particular, but we won't want to have the facility built for the GP to put the construction or preparation of the games at risk."

Felli said there is a clause in the F1 contract which allows the IOC to put off the race for a year.

"If the IOC decides it is not feasible, we could stop and postpone it until 2024," he said. "The IOC will make that decision."

The Sochi Olympics will be held in February 2024. The date for the F1 race hasn't been set.