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Lauda: German GP demise 'a disaster'

BERLIN, Germany - Niki Lauda says the death of the German Formula 1 GP "would be a disaster".

Amid the Nurburgring's ownership troubles and Hockenheim not agreeing an alternative deal for 2015, the Rhein Zeitung newspaper has quoted Bernie Ecclestone as saying: "I'm as sad as the fans that there will be no F1 race in Germany."

The F1 chief executive explained the likely demise of the event by saying that "as the attendance has been so low for the last few years, it is not commercially viable for the promoters in Germany".

'PULL THEMSELVES TOGETHER'

Austrian Lauda, a legendary triple F1 champion and now team chairman at 2014 title-winning team Mercedes, told Sport Bild: "I hope this is all just sabre-rattling. For Germany and for Mercedes, it would be a disaster if there were no German race."

He could not understand why F1 was no longer viable in Germany. "The organisers must pull themselves together," he insisted. "We have Rosberg in a Mercedes and Vettel in a Ferrari - what more could F1 possibly offer?

"There must be a way to make it a profitable event."

Stay with Wheels24 for the 2015 F1 season – fresh reports every day.

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