The FIA, motorsport’s governing body, decided to drop the German Grand Prix from the 2015 Formula One calendar. The decision comes after months of negotiations between F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone and the operators of the Nürburgring and Hockenheim race tracks that usually host the German race.
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It was the Nürburgring scheduled to host the race this year but a lack of commitment from the track’s latest operator, Capricorn, most likely due to financial concerns, meant an alternative race at the Hockenheim was looked at. However, still no deal could be reached, even with leading team Mercedes, for which the German GP is the home event, reportedly helping to cover part of any financial losses.
The change to the calendar means there will now be a three-week gap between the races in the U.K. and Hungary. The German GP was previously scheduled for July 19. Below is the revised, 19-race 2015 F1 calendar:
March 15 - Australia
March 29 - Malaysia
April 12 - China
April 19 - Bahrain
May 10 - Spain
May 24 - Monaco
June 7 - Canada
June 21 - Austria
July 5 - Great Britain
July 26 - Hungary
August 23 - Belgium
September 06 - Italy
September 20 - Singapore
September 27 - Japan
October 11 - Russia
October 25 - U.S.
November 1 - Mexico
November 15 - Brazil
November 29 - Abu Dhabi
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In other F1 news, McLaren’s Fernando Alonso, who missed the season-opener in Australia last week due to a concussion sustained in a pre-season testing crash, is expected to be deemed fit to race at the Malaysian GP this weekend. The same is true for Williams driver Valtteri Bottas, who also missed the Aussie race due to back pain experienced during the race’s qualifying session.
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