F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone has "cast fresh doubt over this year's German GP by suggesting the race may yet not go ahead at all," according to James Galloway of SKY SPORTS. Under the terms of the long-standing race share agreement between Germany's two F1 venues, the Nürburgring "had been scheduled to return as the host of this year's event" after Hockenheim hosted the '14 race. However, Ecclestone revealed last week that the race was set to stay at Hockenheim for this year as at the Nürburgring "there's nobody there." Asked if Hockenheim was "now firmly on the calendar and had a deal in place" for '15, Ecclestone admitted, "Not really." Although
Ecclestone did reveal he was "meeting with the new owners" of the
Nürburgring in London later on Wednesday -- raising the prospect that
their '15 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
prospect of Germany "not staging a race for the first time" since '60
would in some regards "appear unthinkable given Mercedes' status as world
champions and the presence of three local drivers on the grid,
including four-time champion Sebastian Vettel." Though Ecclestone said that 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." He said, "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" (SKY SPORTS, 1/21).
