Hockenheim surprised F2 and GP3 aren't on 2018 German GP bill

Both F2 and GP3 have expanded, to 12 and nine rounds respectively, for next year, but neither will be on the German GP support bill when the event returns to the F1 calendar next season.

A round at the returning French GP - taking place at Paul Ricard - is included on both calendars, as is an event at Sochi in support of the Russian GP.

"This has been a serious surprise for us," Hockenheim's head of marketing, Jorn Teske, told Autosport.

"In the past both GP2 [now F2] and GP3 have been part of the Formula 1 package.

"We only learned about this through the recent announcement.

"There has been no coordination with Liberty concerning the supporting programme, since it has been constant over the last years.

"We can't say why they won't participate."

But Teske added that Hockenheim has now entered into conversations with F1 organisers in the hope of sorting the support package problem.

"Formula 1 has informed us that they are working on a solution," he said.

"We expect Porsche Supercup to be there since it is their home race.

"We have always had an impression that Liberty Media is seriously ambitious to offer a great spectacle for the fans.

"We hope they will be able to offer a high-quality alternative for us."

Sebastien Philippe, boss of the ART Grand Prix team that competes in both F2 and GP3, explained that he had been unaware that Hockenheim would be missing from those series in 2018.

"I was surprised that Sochi was back - I didn't even think about that," he told Autosport.

"I knew that there would be 12 races in F2 and nine in GP3, but I was not expecting this calendar.

"I've no idea the reason why Hockenheim is not there."

When asked if having an extra flyaway race in Russia - in addition to F2's races in Bahrain, Azerbaijan and Abu Dhabi - presented a problem for the teams, Philippe explained that while it helped with the championship's perceptions such a move would add costs.

"On one side it's good for the championship to be more international - it sticks better with the feel of F1," he said.

"But on the other hand, budget-wise it's not really good news because at the moment it is quite a difficult market.

"It will be more expensive but it's like this - it is how it is."

Hockenheim ticket sales starting "extremely well"

Although Hockenheim now has support race slots to fill ahead of next July's German Grand Prix, Teske is pleased with early ticket sales.

"The pre-sale has started extremely well, outselling the 2016 event by 30%," he said.

"We hope to keep up this tendency.

"The new Formula 1 seems to have created big enthusiasm in Hockenheim and Germany."