FIA confirms German GP dropped from 2015 F1 calendar [f1x2]

Formula One’s head honcho Bernie Ecclestone hopes to keep the German Grand Prix on this season’s calendar, in an interview published by Britain’s Press Association on Tuesday.

Ecclestone appeared to rule out the possibility of the race happening in an email sent to a German newspaper on Monday in which he said the German Gran Prix would not be “commercially viable”.

But after the email became public Ecclestone subsequently backtracked and said he would know by this weekend whether the race will take place or not.

Referring to Germany’s two F1 circuits, Hockenheim and Nurburgring, Ecclestone, chief executive of theFormula One group, said: “Basically we haven’t a contract with either venue.

“We are trying to get something done, we are trying to help them. In the end, and God only knows why, the audience in Germany is lousy”.

(Nice slap in the face to some of the most loyal race fans on the planet, not to mention some of the best engineers in the industry)

“I’ve no idea why it should be, because they’ve a German manufacturer in Mercedes who are constructors’ champions, they had a driver in Sebastian (Vettel) who won four successive drivers’ championships.

“But they have not been selling enough tickets to make it work. It’s purely commercial, so I’m trying to be a little bit helpful to them

(So make the tickets affordable to the public and not just give them away to your rich buddies).

“We’re trying to rescue it, but I can’t guarantee we will. We are doing our best, and maybe by this weekend we’ll have an answer. I hope so.”

The German Grand Prix traditionally alternates between Hockenheim and Nurburgring and was due to take place at the latter this year, but the venue has been beset by financial difficulties.

“If we do something, it is looking like Hockenheim will probably be the most-likely venue,” Ecclestone added.

“The bottom line is there is still a chance and we hope to know more by the weekend.”

This year’s race is scheduled to take place on July 17-19. – Agence France-Presse

Last year’s Formula One World Championship runner-up hopes there is resolution to new contract.

Nico Rosberg stated it would be massively disappointing to lose the German Grand Prix, as he thinks it is a “fundamental” part of the Formula One calendar.

Bernie Ecclestone said on Monday that the Hockenheim event, scheduled for July 19, looked unlikely as the circuit had a contract for 2016 but not for 2015, when the Nurburgring was scheduled to host it as part of the alternating deal.
 
German event is ‘legendary’

The German Grand Prix has been a part of the calendar since the 1951 season, having been absent only if the first year of grand prix racing.

Mercedes driver Rosberg said the news that his home race could be dropped are very bad news for the sport, given the involvement of German drivers and companies in Formula One.Germany is a big part of F1 so I hope it works out.

Nico Rosberg "For me for as long as I can think the German Grand Prix is legendary, like the British Grand Prix," said Rosberg. "It's such a fundamental part of the F1 season. It's very disappointing to hear that it's not fixed yet. "For me but also for all the German fans. There's so many motor racing fans in Germany and it has such a large representation in the sport, with me, and Sebastian [Vettel], and Mercedes, etc. Germany is a big part of F1, so I hope it works out.

(Guess Nico didn’t get the memo about the German Gran Prix not being ‘commercially viable’)

Following the third day of pre-season testing at Jerez, where he added 151 laps to Mercedes' mileage total and placed third, 2014 German Grand Prix victor Rosberg spoke of how the news has saddened him."For as long as I can remember, the German Grand Prix was part of the Formula 1 World Championship, so I really hope our Grand Prix will be held this year and beyond that."The fans deserve to have a great show every year because there are so many great supporters out there."Also, there is plenty of German association in Formula 1, with us German drivers like Sebastian [Vettel], [Nico] Hülkenberg and myself, plus of course Mercedes-Benz."So I really hope that Bernie and the promoters find a good solution for everybody."

This year's German Grand Prix has been slated to take place on July 19.