Ferrari Formula One driver Felipe Massa (L) of Brazil takes the lead ahead of Red Bull Formula One driver Sebastian Vettel (3rdL) of Germany and Ferrari Formula One driver Fernando Alonso of Spain (2ndL) after the start of the German Grand Prix at the Hockenheim race track, in this July 25, 2010 file picture. — Reuters BERLIN — There will be no German Grand Prix this year, Hockenheim circuit boss Georg Seiler said Tuesday in a decision that ended months of uncertainty over the country's Formula One race. The absence of Germany, home of reigning world champion Mercedes, for the first time since 1960 leaves the calendar with 19 races. “We have no hope any more of having a Formula One race here (this year),” Seiler told Bild newspaper. “We did everything in the last few years to keep the fans happy.” F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone had kept the door ajar but Seiler said time had run out because “quality would now suffer” if they went ahead with the 10th round of the championship. “We had declared ourselves willing to step in for Nuerburgring, something we were contractually not obliged to do,” he said. — Reuters
