Germany axed from 2017 F1 calendar

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. 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 backto-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.