A 2017 season with 19 Grands Prix?

The 2017 season of F1 could only have 19 Grands Prix compared to 21 this year, according to the latest comments made by Bernie Ecclestone. While the Hockenheim and Interlagos meetings include the mention “subject to approval” on the next calendar of the premier single-seater discipline, the F1 financier is pessimistic about the future of the two events.

Bernie Ecclestone met the new president of Brazil Michel Temer last Wednesday but the Briton claimed not to have discussed the future of the Grand Prix.

“I didn’t ask him., replied Bernie Ecclestone, notably cited by Fox Sports. I just wanted to meet him and chat about general things. Does he think F1 is good for Brazil or not? It's probably good for Sao Paulo, but who knows for Brazil? I don't know what he can do as president. This country is too politicized right now. »

“They have already spent a lot of money on the Olympics and the FIFA World Cup. It was a bit difficult for Sao Paulo. Promoters are trying to keep the race going without losing money. In the end we are the losers because they can't pay us.", launched Bernie Ecclestone.

The promoters, already threatened by rumors of contract termination last June, had assured that they intended finish the work amounting to 60 million dollars (approximately 55,2 million euros) undertaken in Interlagos. The future of the Brazilian Grand Prix became even more cloudy when Joao Doria Jr, the mayor of Sao Paulo, announced last month that his intention to privatize the circuit.

As for the German Grand Prix, the 2015 edition of which was canceled due to the difficult economic situation at the Nürburgring, Bernie Ecclestone is also struggling to see the event continue at Hockenheim.

“I don’t know how we could save the race in Germany, regretted Bernie Ecclestone. We have German world champions, successful German manufacturers, and Germany is not interested in the discipline. I met the new owners of the Nürburgring, Russians, and they didn't know what was happening. As for Hockenheim, it's always the same thing, they never received any support... I would bet that the race will not take place. I will meet them in the coming weeks. »

The Canadian Grand Prix was also subject to approval due to the dilapidated infrastructure of its paddock, but the situation seems less worrying for the Montreal event.