[f1x2] Ecclestone: There may be no 2015 German GP

Ecclestone hints there may be no 2015 German GP?

Formel 1 - Kein Formel-1-Rennen in Deutschland?

Formula 1's Bernie Ecclestone has thrown doubt on this year’s German Grand Prix taking place at either Nurburgring or Hockenheim

The 84-year-old, who said last week that the July 19 race would be at Hockenheim if a contract could be finalized, has said that no deal had been signed with either circuit.

Bernie Ecclestone has cast fresh doubt over this year’s German GP by suggesting the race may yet not go ahead at all.

In recent years the race has alternated between Hockenheim and the Nurburgring, and with the former hosting the race in 2014 it was the latter's turn this season.

Under the terms of the long-standing race share agreement between Germany’s two F1 venues, the Nurburging had been scheduled to return as the host of this year’s event after Hockeheim hosted the 2014 race. However, Ecclestone revealed last week that the race was set to stay at Hockenheim for this year as at the Nurburgring “there’s nobody there”.

However, less than a week later, he has confirmed that no such deal has been done.

Asked in an exclusive interview with Sky Sports News HQ’s Craig Slater if Hockenheim was now firmly on the calendar and had a deal in place for 2015, Ecclestone admitted: “Not really.”

Although the F1 supremo did reveal he was meeting with the new owners of the Nurburgring in London later on Wednesday – raising the prospect that their 2015 hopes may not yet be over after all – he conceded that there was a chance that the German race might not take place altogether this year.

He then joked: “But we’ve got one, it’s called Austria.”

The thought of Germany not staging a race for the first time since 1960 would in some regards appear unthinkable with Mercedes looking to defend its  constructors' title, the presence of three local drivers on the grid, including four-time champion Sebastian Vettel. The possibility of Nico Rosberg claiming the drivers' crown. Again, there's Sebastian Vettel at Ferrari and Nico Hulkenberg at Force India--- Ecclestone is fully aware that there will be much interest in this year’s Grand Prix.  The Germans missing out on seeing Vettel repeat Michael Schumacher's career move on home soil and Mercedes not defending its crown is simply unimaginable to me.

Although Hockenheim's future has appeared more secure in recent time, the circuit came under scrutiny last year when its race attracted meagre crowds – a stark contrast to the high attendances of Michael Schumacher’s heyday.

Ecclestone feels German fans’ interest in the sport has waned since Schumacher’s second retirement.

“Honestly I don’t know [why the event is struggling], it surprises me. Maybe it’s a little bit that the German people were very used to and supported Michael and miss Michael when he wasn’t racing any longer," he added.

Hockenheim and Nurburgring originally entered into their race share arrangement from 2007 in order to share the financial burden of an F1 contract, and while Ecclestone says he will do everything he can to ensure a German round remains on the calendar, the 84-year-old stresses it won't happen if neither venue can afford it.

Ecclestone said he was meeting the Nurburgring’s new owners late Wednesday, reviving their prospects after he appeared to write them off.
His words could be interpreted as part of the bargaining process (you think??), however, and he made clear the sport wanted to keep Germany on the calendar.

“We would do everything to stop them fading away, but in the end the only reason the race won’t happen is because they can’t afford to run the race,” he said.

It brings to the forefront the current problems in F1 where circuits such as the Nurburgring, Hockenheim, Monza and Silverstone, have to pay their own way, often ruining themselves in the process, while the newer additions to the calendar are backed by wealthy governments eager to be part of the F1 dream, no matter what cost is involved...

We cannot forget either that at the height of the Schumacher's career, Germany could afford to run two races each year, much like Spain did for a while when Alonso was king. However, in both cases, other than the $$money$$ the interest is no longer there.

#keepdrivingmichael

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Bernie Ecclestone hat Spekulationen um einen Verlust des Großen Preises von Deutschland schon in der kommenden Saison angeheizt. Der 84-Jährige deutete in einem Interview mit dem britischen TV-Sender Sky Sports News an, dass möglicherweise weder Hockenheim noch der Nürburgring 2015 ein Rennen austragen werden.

"Aber wir haben ja schon ein deutsches Rennen - in Österreich", sagte Ecclestone im Scherz.

Erst in der vergangenen Woche hatte Ecclestone den eigentlich für den 19. Juli geplanten Großen Preis am traditionsreichen Nürburgring in Zweifel gezogen. Als Ersatz könnte Hockenheim in Frage, doch genau das ist offenbar noch nicht sicher. "Nicht wirklich", antwortete Ecclestone auf die Frage, ob Hockenheim im Kalender stehe.

Nürburgring: Rennen zu teuer?

Ecclestone kündigte gleichzeitig noch für Mittwoch Gespräche mit den neuen Eigentümern des Nürburgrings in London an. "Wir würden alles unternehmen, damit sie nicht verschwinden. Am Ende ist der einzige Grund, warum das Rennen nicht stattfinden könnte, dass sie es sich nicht leisten können", sagte er. Seit 1960 war in Deutschland stets ein Formel-1-Rennen ausgetragen worden, seit 2008 wechseln sich Hockenheimring und Nürburgring wegen der enormen Kosten ab.

Zumindest in Hockenheim galt die Zukunft als Formel-1-Strecke eigentlich als gesichert, die schwachen Zuschauerzahlen im Vergleich zu den Zeiten von Michael Schumacher sorgten jedoch für Bedenken. Auch Ecclestone hat für den Rückgang keine Erklärung. "Das überrascht mich. Vielleicht liegt es daran, dass die Deutschen immer Michael unterstützt haben, an ihn gewohnt waren und ihn jetzt vermissen", sagte der Formel-1-Boss.

Im vergangenen Jahr waren am Rennsonntag lediglich 52.000 Fans an die Strecke gekommen, 2013 am Nürburgring waren sogar nur 44.000 Zuschauer beim Rennen. Auch andere Standorte wie die Traditionsstrecke im englischen Silverstone beklagten zuletzt einen Zuschauerschwund.