It is all but certain that Formula One will not return to Germany in 2017.
One of the most successful country’s in terms of teams and drivers over the last three decades has also been struggling to meet the financial demands of hosting a race.
The race has been alternating between Hockenheim and the Nurburgring since 2007 with the aim of not only continuing the history at two of F1’s most famous circuits but also to ease the monetary pressure on both venues.
The Nurburgring, in particular, has been struggling to survive for quite some time and was even sold three times in 2014, eventually becoming property of a Russian billionaire.
Despite a wealthy new owner, there has been no commitment in retaining the F1 race and it was cancelled in 2015, meaning there was no race in Germany for the first time in 60 years, and little appetite has been shown to return in 2017.
Hockenheim did bring the sport back in 2016 and is confident it can host again in 2018, however, high ticket prices and decline in interest mean attracting fans has been difficult, with large swathes of the famed ‘stadium’ section empty and/ or used for advertising.
Indeed, only 57,000 fans showed up for the race this year, below what was required for the event to break even.
There was some hope, following three years of success, that Mercedes would step in to help retain the race but the German carmaker has also backed way from intervening.
Following this weekend’s season finale in Abu Dhabi, F1 may even have its third German world champion, with the country having that distinction for what would be 10 of the last 16 years.
But Nico Rosberg is not that popular in his homeland and, therefore, not even that will likely provide a boost to keep the race on the calendar.
F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has still not completely ruled out a race in 2017 and we will likely get a better indication when the schedule is released on Wednesday.
