Formula 1 commercial chief Sean Bratches says it is “frustrating” that no solution has been found regarding the future of the German Grand Prix.
Hockenheim has hosted the German Grand Prix in even-numbered years since its race-sharing deal with the Nurburgring came into effect in 2008.
The Nurburgring reneged on its side of the contract amid worsening financial issues, meaning it did not take up hosting duties in 2015 and 2017 respectively.
Hockenheim kept to its side of the contract, though the long-term deal agreed in the previous decade expires after next month’s event, and no new deal has been forthcoming
“Our contract expires in 2018,” a Hockenheim spokesperson recently confirmed to Motorsport Week.
“According to the current status, we have no contract for 2019. If and when another F1 GP will take place at the Hockenheimring, contract negotiations will have to show.
“The management will try to keep Formula 1 at the Hockenheimring, provided that a constellation is found that brings a risk minimisation.”
Bratches confirmed to German publication Auto Bild Motorsport on Wednesday that “unfortunately, we could not agree with any racetrack.
“It is frustrating to see that we have not found a solution for a country with such a huge racing tradition, the reigning constructor world champion [Mercedes] and a four-time champion [Sebastian Vettel].
“And that, apparently, nobody is willing to support the racetracks and take away the financial risk.
"The interest in Germany is great. We know that from our own sources and you can see that in the ratings. For the next few years, of course, we are still working on a solution.”
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff explained in Austria that the absence of a German Grand Prix is “not an easy situation because we would like to have a German race for our fans in Germany and all the Mercedes staff.
“But you need to draw a line between operating a team and getting involved in race promotion, as far as it comes back to Mercedes as a team and this is what we’ve done.”
The absence of the German Grand Prix clears the way for the congested mid-season spell of events to be tweaked for 2019.
Formula 1 is currently in the midst of its first ever triple-header, encompassing Grands Prix in France, Austria and Britain, before a weekend’s break prior to the Germany-Hungary back-to-back.
The 2019 calendar is nonetheless set to stay at 21 events, with the provisionally confirmed Miami Grand Prix pencilled in for an October date, as per prior reports.
The FIA has yet to publish a draft 2019 schedule, though organisers of the Australian Grand Prix have already confirmed their event will be held a week earlier than in 2018.
Discussion about this post