In an interview with a German magazine, Formula 1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone said that Germany "could return to the grand prix schedule if an agreement was reached with track owners," according to Maria Sheahan of REUTERS. Ecclestone said, "I am sitting here with my pen and am prepared to sign a contract if they send me one." FIA this year "dropped the German grand prix from the Formula One calendar for the first time since 1960." The Nürburgring had been due to host the July 19 race under an alternation agreement "but a change of ownership and financial difficulties left Hockenheim as the only option." Ecclesstone said, "I had hoped that the new owners of the Nürburgring would be able to agree a contract with me, but that does not appear to be the case." Ecclestone also "cast doubt on whether Hockenheim could continue to shoulder the financial strain of the grand prix." Ecclestone: "We really have an extremely favorable contract with Hockenheim. That won't be the case in the future anymore. They have to accept what other European countries pay too" (REUTERS, 12/23).
NO ALLIANCE: GRAND PRIX reported Mercedes Non-Exec Chair Niki Lauda has denied Ecclestone's claim "about an alleged alliance between top F1 teams Mercedes and Ferrari." Amid an "intensifying political war between the sport's authorities on the one hand and the leading teams on the other," Ecclestone said that there is "an agreement between Mercedes and Ferrari." But Lauda "denies the claim." Lauda: "Let's clear one thing. Ferrari are a rival to Mercedes, and one that we must always defeat. We aren't talking about an alliance" (GRAND PRIX, 12/27).
