German GP boss in Spain to discuss 2019 race

Hockenheim boss Georg Seiler is in Barcelona this weekend to meet with Formula 1 bosses. Seiler and the F1 chiefs will be discussing the future of the German Grand Prix, which does not have a contract in place after this year's event.

The Hockenheim and Nurburgring circuits previously hosted the German Grand Prix on a policy of alternating venues, but Nurburgring dropped off the calendar after 2013. Since then, Hockenheim has held its race every two years, but has no deal sorted beyond July's race.

"I don't know what will happen," Seiler told DPA news agency. "But we won't agree a contract that involves an economic risk. The promoter fee is just too high. We receive no regional, state or federal subsidy," he added. "We are almost unique in that way."

Seiler also spoke about former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, who was ousted from his position as F1's CEO at the start of 2017: "I had a confidential relationship based on partnership and even friendship, and negotiations with him were always fair," he said.

But Seiler revealed that 60,000 tickets have so far been sold for the race in July: "That would give us an economic zero," he said. "At the moment we set the playground so that others earn money. What we need is an investor or a sponsor so that we can organise another Formula 1 race in Hockenheim."