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Lauda has little sympathy for German GP organisers

Published on 24 Apr 2015 16:52
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By: Rob Veenstra

Niki Lauda insists he has no sympathy for organisers of the now-defunct 2015 German grand prix. After a six-decade run for the key German market on the F1 calendar, neither Hockenheim nor the Nurburgring could agree a deal with Bernie Ecclestone for this year. "We would have accepted 50 per cent of the price of the contract for one year," the F1 supremo said in Bahrain. "It still left them in trouble."

Ecclestone added that the same fate could now befall organisers of the fabled Italian grand prix at Monza, as he warned: "Nobody is indispensible. We have other great races that can step in," the 84-year-old is quoted by Speed Week.

Ecclestone's argument is that if European hosts like Spa can afford to pay the fee, so too can those in Germany and Italy. The Austrian grand prix, for instance, is now run by the energy drink company Red Bull at the former A1-Ring circuit.

"When you see how hard Asia and other places have worked to get a race, I would have never believed that we would get it here," Austrian F1 legend Gerhard Berger said in Vienna this week. Ecclestone has said repeatedly that although "There are lots of things some people would like, they don't have them because they can't afford them".

Mercedes team chairman Lauda, therefore, insists he has no sympathy for the stricken German race promoters. "They complain about having to pay Bernie Ecclestone but only have themselves to blame," the triple world champion said. He also said the demise of the German grand prix will now help June's race in Austria. "As there is no race in Germany now, many people will come here instead," said Lauda. (GMM)

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Replies (4)

khasmir

Posts: 893
Should be a good year for Spa as well, many Dutch people for Max and a whole bunch of Germans ;)
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- Apr 24 2015 - 18:47
nakos

Posts: 7
Since the new design destroyed all charm and excitement the orginal Hockenheim had it's just a relief that it is gone. Pure Darwinism - survival of the fittest and removal of the unfittest. And since the shorter Nurnberg ring is unbelievably boring, Austria is way better. They could add a race at Brands too as a European GP
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- Apr 24 2015 - 19:07
scf1fan

Posts: 58
Yep, let's see how long RB keeps paying for the Austrian GP when RBF1 keeps losing . . . Sir Mateschitz has already indicated he's willing to bail on the team. He might not be any happier to further fund Bernie's piggy bank for the privilege of watching his team be back markers at his own race.

N.Lauda has never been one of the more sympathetic personalities in the Paddock . . . And I'm sure HIS bosses (MB) will be just enthralled with his rationale. Maybe MBF1 needs a German chairman?
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- Apr 24 2015 - 21:35
Ironbuket

Posts: 7
Maybe I understood the interview incorrectly, but I thought that Bernie was saying that the 50 per cent contract was what they gave the German GP last season so they could sort their finances out and they couldn't and that's why it isn't on this year. This article implies the discount would have been given for this year when in reality they have already had the discount and it didn't help? They already paid 50 per cent of the other countries last year and still cant sort themselves out, that is the point (i.e. they are hopeless financially)?
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- Apr 26 2015 - 04:28