Germany dropped from 2017 Formula One calendar
ByReuters
Updated 30/11/2016 at 19:20 GMT
The German Grand Prix was dropped formally from the 2017 Formula One calendar on Wednesday with the renamed Azerbaijan Grand Prix given a new date to avoid a clash with the Le Mans 24 Hours sportscar race.
Nicro Rosberg - German Grand Prix
Image credit: Reuters
Germany will have no Formula One Grand Prix next year, despite the dominance of Mercedes and the country's new world champion Nico Rosberg, after the race was axed for financial reasons on Wednesday.
While that move will dismay German fans, there was a more welcome change in the renamed Azerbaijan Grand Prix being pushed back to June 25 to avoid a clash with the Le Mans 24 Hours sportscar classic.
Races in Brazil and Canada, whose fate had also been left open on the draft calendar, were confirmed on the 20-round official version published by the governing International Automobile Federation (FIA). There were a record 21 races this year.
Germany's absence had been expected with the Nuerburgring unwilling to pay hosting fees and Hockenheim, which drew a mere 57,000-strong crowd this year, reluctant to lose money in successive seasons.
Hockenheim, one of the best attended venues in seven times champion Michael Schumacher's time, does have a contract for 2018 when the race is expected to return.
Azerbaijan's street race in Baku made its debut this year as the European Grand Prix but organisers had wanted to avoid a repeat of the clash with Le Mans and to remove the logistical challenge of a back-to-back race with Canada.
The races in Austria and Britain are moved back a week to help fill the gap left by Germany, with those grands prix now taking place on July 9 and 16 respectively.
Hungary switches to the July 30 slot that was earmarked for Germany.
Mexico's race is again paired with the U.S. Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, at the end of October rather than with Brazil which stands on its own as the penultimate round in November.
Malaysia is paired with Japan rather than neighbours Singapore, which remains in its usual slot after Italy. The draft calendar had envisaged Malaysia preceding Singapore.
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