Ironically, of course, such a suggestion has already been made by Bernie Ecclestone - for the British and French grands prix, despite Silverstone (as it was at the time of the suggestion) not claiming that it could not afford to continue to host a race.

Nurburgring manager Walter Kafitz has said that the circuit's deficit from the 2007 European Grand Prix was 'similar' to that quoted by Hockenheim, despite their alternation being designed to limit losses.

Since the inauguration of the F1 world championship, Germany has only been absent from the calendar on two occasions, in the first season and ten years later, in 1960, after the 1959 tragedy at Avus.