Nurburgring in, but only 19 races

[Dare]

   from F1 Planet
Bernie Ecclestone has confirmed there will only be 19 races on the 2013 calendar and the Nurburgring will be one of the venues.

The FIA announced late last year that this season would consist of 20 races with an unconfirmed European grand prix on July 21 added to the schedule and the venue for the German GP yet to be named.

Media reports later suggested that the Turkish Grand Prix at Istanbul Park, which was dropped after the 2011 season, could make a return while France and Austria were also mooted as possible venues.

However, there will be no 20th race after Ecclestone told Reuters 'the 2013 calendar will feature 19 races after Turkey's failed bid to return'.

The Formula One boss also confirmed that the Nurburgring will host this year's German Grand Prix, ruling Hockenheim out.

"It should be the Nurburgring and we are trying to make it happen," he said. "I'm talking with them today [Tuesday]."

Meanwhile a spokesperson for Nurburgring told GPUpdate.net: "The German Grand Prix is not confirmed yet. We are still in talks and we are currently waiting for a response to our proposal."

[cosworth151]

It's a shame that Austria couldn't make it in. I hope the Nurburgring does happen.

[F1fanaticBD]

Why is F1 adamant about not bringing the A1 ring? What is the specific problem? I think they got a Sponsor as Red Bull, and would have fitted easily in place of Turkey (Which never in the run actually) and would have give us a better 20 race calender, than now probable 19 race calender.

[lkjohnson1950]

When Bernie said Turkey or nothing he meant it. Hard to say what his thinking is, but if there was a deal, he probably would have taken it. He could possibly be in trouble with his TV deals if he contracted for 20 races.

[Jericoke]

I supported F1 racing at Bahrain last season, mostly under the idea that by the time it was obviously a bad idea, the machine was already in motion, and stopping the race in Bahrain wouldn't have been a great idea either.

However, according to Norris McDonald of the Toronto Star, http://thestar.blogs.com/autoracing/2013/01/why-is-f1-still-planning-to-race-at-bahrain-in-2013.html things are worse than ever.   F1 has had time to think about it, and nary a word.  No 'conditional announcement'.  In 1985 F1, under the leadership of Jean-Marie Balestre, stopped running in South Africa due to Apartheid. 

I know that the FIA is trying to be non-political, and that Bernie goes where the pay cheque is... but if people are interested in making a big deal about F1 being in Bahrain again, now's the time to start the outrage, not once the teams show up.  Yet, nary a word from the F1 press (despite the fact that the only stories are fluff about Luca hoping Bernie goes to jail, and Marko hoping that Webber gets lost on the way to the factory)

[vintly]

The Bahrain situation is appalling. British collusion in the sham that pretends all is well in the Gulf kingdom is disgusting and deplorable. This is why nothing is in the press about it:

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/377063/20120824/bahrain-pr-firms-bell-pottinger-m-c.htm#

We sell them lots of guns too. Nice eh?

Ecclestone, Cameron, Al Khalifa monarchy: SCUM.

[F1fanaticBD]

The thing is like previous year, we will have a controversial Bahrain GP, but it will happen never the less. Because no matter how much the outcry, the F1 circus will reach there where there is money..

[Irisado]

I agree that Bahrain should be removed from the calender, not only for the current domestic issues there, but also because the track is terrible.

I'm still disappointed that some of the older European circuits are no longer considered as race venues these days, but I'm not surprised.  Having twenty races is possibly overkill in any case, so maybe it's for the best.