Bernie Ecclestone has suggested the matter of the embattled German grand prix is purely financial. The F1 chief executive has set a deadline of this weekend for the conclusion of contract talks with the Nurburgring or Hockenheim. Many, however, have argued that as one of F1's traditional host nations, the sport should make an exception to keep the German grand prix alive.
Ecclestone told the German news agency DPA he begs to differ. "If an organiser wants to schedule a rock concert or a tennis match or whatever," he said, "then they know what the conditions are. If they cannot meet the conditions, then it doesn't happen," said the 84-year-old Briton.
Ecclestone also dismissed the notion that a race in Germany is necessarily crucial for F1. "If it's such a great market," he said, "then you wouldn't think it (organising a race) would be such a problem for them." Asked why Germany is struggling so much in F1, Ecclestone answered: "I don't know. It's pretty strange."
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, however, has said a home race is important for the German carmaker, and vowed to help. But "Whether it is money in the hand or not is not the question," he insisted. "It's basically a matter of the promoter and the rights holder agreeing." (GMM)
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