The future of the German Grand Prix appears to be hanging in the balance after Bernie Ecclestone revealed on Monday that he had ended negotiations with the Nurburgring over the 2013 event.
The Nurburgring was supposed to host this year's event as part of an alternation plan agreed with Hockenheim, but financial problems at the venue meant there was no guarantee it could fund the race. Following weeks of talks to try to agree terms, Ecclestone has now indicated that a deal does not appear to be likely.
Speaking to German publication Spiegel, Ecclestone said: "After due consideration of their proposal we believe it is regrettably not financially acceptable, so we have terminated our negotiations."
The German GP's fate may now rest on Ecclestone sorting out a deal with Hockenheim, which hosted last year's race. Should that plan not come off, then the F1 calendar could be reduced to just 18 races, as plans for a 20th event have not reached fruition. Turkey, Austria and Portugal were all linked with that vacant slot, which has been penciled in for July 21, but there has been no indication of a venue getting the green light.
If Germany does not take place, then it means there will be just one race – the Hungarian GP on July 28 – between the British GP on June 30 and the Belgian GP on August 25.
2013 Formula 1 calendar
03/17 AUS Grand Prix of Australia
03/24 MYS Grand Prix of Malaysia
04/14 CHN Grand Prix of China
04/21 BHR Grand Prix of Bahrain
05/12 ESP Grand Prix of Spain (Barcelona)
05/26 MCO Grand Prix of Monaco
06/09 CAN Grand Prix of Canada
06/30 GBR Grand Prix of Great Britain
07/07 DEU Grand Prix of Germany
07/21 TBA
07/28 HUN Grand Prix of Hungary
08/25 BEL Grand Prix of Belgium
09/08 ITA Grand Prix of Italy
09/22 SGP Grand Prix of Singapore
10/06 KOR Grand Prix of Korea
10/13 JPN Grand Prix of Japan
10/27 IND Grand Prix of India
11/03 UAE Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi
11/17 USA Grand Prix of USA (Austin)
11/24 BRA Grand Prix of Brazil