F1 set to exit Germany this year

FRANKFURT — A Formula 1 race in Germany this year looks increasingly unlikely as neither of the country’s two circuits have been able to make a deal with series promoter Bernie Ecclestone.

Nurburgring circuit spokesman Pietro Nuvolini said earlier this week that there was still no agreement with Ecclestone, while the Hockenheim circuit said earlier this week that the facility would be unable to organise the race within the remaining time.

“We have come to the conclusion that it makes no sense now to wait any longer because of timing, organisational and economic reasons,” Nuvolini said.

Provisionally, the German Grand Prix has been set for July 19. With the two circuits alternating annually, Nurburgring was scheduled to stage the race. However, because it has financial problems, Hockenheim was considered instead.

Nuvoloni said the circuit was making the July 19 date available to another event. Nurburgring has been negotiating with Ecclestone to take a cut in his fee for staging the race. The fee is reportedly US$15 million (S$20.8 million).

The German race has been losing spectators steadily since the days of seven-time champion Michael Schumacher, even though Germany is home to Mercedes, the car maker behind the top team last season, and driver Nico Rosberg. Four-time champion Sebastian Vettel, who now drives for Ferrari, is also German.

Georg Seiler, managing director of the Hockenheim circuit, told Bild newspaper earlier this week that “we have no more hope that F1 will take place here”.

“Time has expired for organising a race here,” he said. “The quality of the event would have suffered.”

The absence of Germany for the first time since 1960 leaves the calendar with 19 races. The Nurburgring, one of the sport’s most historic venues with the original track dating from the pre-World War II years, has changed ownership since it last appeared on the calendar.

“Very sad to hear no more home GP this year,” Force India’s German driver Nico Hulkenberg said on Twitter.

German drivers have been among the most successful in F1, especially Schumacher and Vettel.

However, attendances dwindled after Schumacher’s retirement and only 52,000 fans turned up on race day at Hockenheim last year to see Rosberg win for Mercedes. The victory was the first by a German driver in a German car on home soil since the 1930s. AGENCIES