F1's German GP could return at different venue after 2020 exit

This year's German GP took place after Mercedes stepped in as a title sponsor following informal meetings with F1 bosses, and Hockenheim had a one-year contract that included an option for 2020.

But in July, Mercedes confirmed it would not intervene to keep its home race on the calendar, although Hockenheim officials had hoped there could be a deal put in place to rescue the event.

While Hockenheim is unlikely to make a swift return to the calendar, F1 has revealed that other tracks and cities have expressed an interest in securing a future German GP.

• The road to F1 2020's calendar
• The final calendar revealed
• How F1 solves its biggest headache
• F1 teams agree to more races
• How a famous race made its comeback
• The fight to stay on F1 2020's calendar

Formula 1's global director of promoters and business relations Chloe Targett-Adams said: "With Germany, we knew it was going to be tricky [to keep it on the calendar].

"It was touch and go with the last renewal, but - with the support of the circuit, the Hockenheim municipality and with Mercedes as title sponsor - we were able to extend for a year, but that wasn't possible for 2020.

"It's sad that F1 will not be in Germany next year, although we will see what happens in the longer term.

"There is a strong pipeline of interest from other interested regions, cities and parties. It's great to have that level of interest even when you are leaving a territory."

Targett-Adams added that F1 is looking at ways it can continue to promote the championship to German fans.

"Strategically, it is something we are thinking about, whereby if we are out of a market from a race perspective, how do we engage with fans in the market in terms of live events?" she said.

"Is that through fan festivals, testing? What avenues are available to bring fans close to the action if the opportunity to attend a race no longer exists?"

The 2020 draft calendar confirmed that Monza does yet not have a contract in place for next year - but according to F1 it is "currently being finalised".

Targett-Adams added: "We're working on it at the moment and we're hoping that we will have a positive outcome, sooner rather than later.

"We announced earlier this year that we had reached commercial terms in principle, so it is now just a case of working through the final agreements, and that takes a little bit of time."