25/11/2016
NEWS STORY
Despite being the home of the world champion constructor, and possibly the world champion driver, Germany looks unlikely to host a round of the world championship in 2017.
The event was one of three to feature the infamous 'to be confirmed' asterisk when the provisional calendar was unveiled last month, and while Canada and Brazil now look likely to be on the final schedule released next week Germany looks highly unlikely.
"We have noted that a Formula One event in 2017 for Germany is no longer on the calendar," Hockenheim chief executive Georg Seiler told {i]Speedweek. "This is regrettable, but not surprising, especially since an appointment was only mentioned under reservation and there was no Formula One contract for the Hockenheimring.
"There was also no offer in which all economic risks had been excluded, which was always our condition as a possible venue," he added.
In 2015, despite Mercedes winning the 2014 constructors' title and driver Lewis Hamilton winning the drivers', and both looking set to repeat the feat, Germany was missing from the calendar for the first time since 1960.
Between 2008 and 2014 the race had alternated between Hockenheim and the Nurburgring however, with the latter under new management following a buy-out it fell to the former to become the sole host. Due to the short period of notice, and the ongoing economic situation however, Hockenheim was unable to step in and host the event in 2015, though it did host this year's race despite fears of the financial viability of the event.
With this year's race day crowd down to just 57,000, below the break-even mark, and the economic situation showing little sign of improvement, organisers clearly feel that it is best to pull the plug sooner rather than later.
The World Motor Sport Council, which meets on Wednesday, is likely to confirm Germany's absence as it unveils a revised 20-race calendar.
The news comes as German Nico Rosberg heads into the season finale with a 12-point advantage and at a time the country - with 4 drivers - is the best represented on the F1 grid.
Check out our Friday gallery from Abu Dhabi, here.