Nürburgring In Talks With Formula 1 Execs About Return To Calendar In '19

Motorsports complex Nürburgring is in discussions with Formula 1 execs regarding a "return to the calendar" in '19, according to Lawrence Barretto of MOTORSPORT. Ongoing "financial challenges and a change of ownership" have prevented the circuit from hosting F1 since '13. But when Mirco Markfort took over as CEO in March '16, the venue began "formulating a plan to entice F1 back." Liberty Media is "keen to retain European heartland races on the calendar," with the French Grand Prix returning this year for the first time since '08 and the German Grand Prix coming back after a one-year hiatus, with Hockenheim playing host. Markfort is believed to have met with F1 CEO Chase Carey at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Markfort said, "We really would appreciate to have the Formula 1 back at the Nürburgring in 2019. This will only be possible if we take meaningful economic surrounding conditions into consideration" (MOTORSPORT, 1/4).