Despite ongoing financial problems which have necessitated the laying off of staff, organisers at the Nurburgring remain hopeful the circuit will host the German Grand Prix in 2013.

While governments are more than willing to pick up the tab for F1 in the new rising economies of the east, in Europe the situation is totally different, with politicians unable to use taxpayers money in order to increase the wealth of the sport's owners.

While the future of F1 in Spain remains in doubt, so too in Germany there are problems. The Nurburgring, which has a deal to alternate hosting of the country's Grand Prix with Hockenheim, has had to lay off 100 staff in an attempt to cut costs, with the threat of further redundancies in the pipeline. Yet still, organisers, who are already in negotiations with Bernie Ecclestone to arrange a new deal, feel the circuit will be able to host the race in 2013.

"Negotiations with Bernie Ecclestone have already started and are ongoing for the 2013 race," Nuerburgring Automotive GmbH (NAG) spokesman Karl-Heinz Steinkuehler told Reuters. "At the moment there is package that the operators look at positively. But it is also the state of Rhineland-Palatinate that needs to sign off as a partners for any deal.

Steinkuehler says that there will be further talks in the coming months, claming that the financial future of the circuit is secure, despite the job losses and NAG's concern regarding the leasing costs of the facilities.

"The operators have no problem and the season starting in April this year is fully guaranteed," said Steinkuehler. "The cutbacks are necessary to meet the leasing costs."