F1’s German TV broadcasters insist they remain keen to keep the sport on television. The current contracts expire at the end of this year.
But a spokesman for Sky Deutschland told Speed Week: “We announce something when there is something to announce.
“But we make no secret of the fact that, even after 20 years, we see formula one is a great sport and we are interested in continuing this partnership.”
And a spokesman for free-to-air broadcaster RTL added: “We are in negotiations and do not feel under pressure. The talks can theoretically continue until the end of the year.”
Meanwhile, Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff says there is no doubt that, even though Germany is missing from the 2015 calendar, it will be back next season.
Christian Horner has admitted the rocky relationship between Red Bull and Renault is due to a loss of “patience”.
“A lot has been said and written about the relationship between Red Bull Racing and Renault,” he acknowledged in an interview with France’s Auto Hebdo.
Indeed, team boss Horner’s comments come at a well-publicised crossroads, as Renault is said to be considering buying the Lotus team, while Red Bull is reportedly in talks with Ferrari and Mercedes.
Asked what would happen if Renault leaves F1 altogether, the Briton answered: “If we are not able to change to another brand of engines, then we would have to leave the championship” as well.
As for Red Bull’s role in potentially turning Renault away, Horner said Cyril Abiteboul has actually masterminded a “large-scale restructuring”, and fevered work is taking place at Viry.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhvuCG1yQ-M
After playing second fiddle to Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen during the early stages of the season, Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas have come into their own in recent grands prix.
Massa claimed the team’s first podium of the 2015 campaign at the Austrian Grand Prix while the Brazilian led a Williams 1-2 during the first stint at the British GP last time out.
However, the team lost their way slightly due to the cooler conditions at Silverstone and Vettel claimed third place behind the Mercedes cars after making better strategic calls.
It means Williams are still 60 points behind the Scuderia in the standings, but head of performance engineering Rob Smedley feels they have the momentum now, but they are still rated third by Paddy Power.
“We are constantly bringing new bits to every grand prix in all areas of the car,” he told Autosport. “The team is developing the car in small incremental steps and there is more to come.
“We are trying more and more to put ourselves into a more favourable position as we want to try and get second position in the Championship – that is our target now.”
Williams set sights on Ferrari
The German Grand Prix will return to the Formula One calendar next season, according to Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff.
The race has already been added to the 2016 provisional schedule which was released by the FIA last week. But uncertainty still surrounds the grand prix after this year’s race, which was originally penned in for July 19, was pulled amid financial difficulties in March.
Mercedes chief Wolff (left) (with Niki Lauda, right), says the German Grand Prix will return next year. Nico Rosberg celebrates his win in the last Grand Prix in his homeland, in 2014
Lewis Hamilton looking glum with Rosberg after coming third at Hockenheim in 2014. It marks the first time in 55 years that a Formula One race has not been staged in Germany.
‘There is an impact on Mercedes from losing the German Grand Prix but, as much as it is a shame that we can’t show and display our cars in front of our fans and Daimler colleagues, we will be there next year.’
