Bernie Ecclestone on Saturday said he will try his best to keep formula one at the Nurburgring.
The new state coalition government has said it will no longer support the German event, with circuit chief Karl Josef Schmidt admitting contract talks for the next race in 2013 have begun this weekend.

“I am very optimistic that formula one will continue as always at the Nurburgring,” F1 chief executive Ecclestone is quoted by the Rhein-Zeitung newspaper.

“I will try my best so that we can stay here,” added the Briton at the track on qualifying day.

It has been reported that the circuit operators are seeking a big discount, similar to the one Schmidt successfully negotiated for Hockenheim some time ago.

Ecclestone said: “How can I give a discount if there is no agreement? No one has come to talk to me from the government.

“But I am sure we will think of something. Of course I am open to negotiations.”

It is believed Ecclestone is convinced Germany is a key market for F1, with Hockenheim not financially able to host a race every single year.

“I have been coming here for about 1000 years and have invested personally a lot in this race,” he said.

Jul.7 (GMM) Christian Horner wants to sit down with Sebastian Vettel at Silverstone this weekend and talk about the future.

23-year-old Vettel is already contracted to Red Bull Racing for 2011, but the Milton Keynes based team reportedly wants a much longer deal.

Germany’s Sport Bild said the team, owned by Austrian Dietrich Mateschitz but run by Briton Horner, is eyeing a deal through 2015.

But when asked precisely how long he would like Vettel to commit, Horner joked: “2028.

“Then he’d be 41, like Michael Schumacher.”

Vettel handles his own contractual negotiations, with only the assistance of his father Norbert.

Horner said: “I know that Mercedes would have Sebastian. Ferrari too, and even McLaren would not be averse. That’s why we want to have him for the long term.”

The media report said a new deal to 2015, with options through to 2018 with a ten per cent retainer increase per additional year, would boost Vettel’s retainer to about EUR 12 million per season.

Said Horner: “Sebastian is the future. He is going to be around, winning, for many years.”

And Vettel commented: “I already have a contract with Red Bull. What happens next, we will see.

“For me, it’s not about the money but about sitting in a competitive car with a team I feel comfortable with.”

Jun.11 (GMM)  Sebastian Vettel has played down rumours that Red Bull is pushing to secure his services for the long term.

The 22-year-old is already under contract to the end of next season, amid reports the Austrian squad now wants him to re-commit through 2015.

His teammate Mark Webber, 33, has signed a contract extension keeping him at Red Bull Racing in 2011, and Vettel on Thursday denied that the move was some sort of reaction to their recent collision in Turkey.

“I’ve known this piece of information a little longer than the public,” he said.

“In regards to the (Vettel) rumours, I can say that we have not spoken as of yet about this topic, as 2015 is quite some time into the future,” added the German.

In light of their Istanbul Park crash and rumours they are now sharing a palpably tense relationship, it is an interesting side-note that on Sunday, Germany plays Australia in the FIFA World Cup.

“Germany will clearly win the match as Australia is the weakest team in our group, so winning should be imperative, even though Mark has a different opinion on that,” smiled Vettel.

“But as we know, the both of us have lately had some different opinions on things anyway.”

Red Bull’s team boss insists talks about extending Mark Webber’s contract have not yet begun.

After the Australian driver commandingly won the back-to-back Spanish and Monaco grands prix from pole, the energy drink’s racing adviser Helmut Marko admitted it is “our desire to continue with Vettel and Webber”.

And on Sunday night, team boss Christian Horner was spotted out for dinner with Webber’s famous manager Flavio Briatore.

But Horner is quoted by the Sun newspaper as clarifying that no actual negotiations with the 33-year-old world championship leader have yet taken place.

“The team and Mark are very relaxed about the situation,” said the Briton.

“He is an important member of the team and he is driving fantastically well.  But we have not spoken, and have no real interest in speaking, with any of our drivers.

“When the time is right, we will sit down and look at the paperwork,” added Horner.

Webber’s contract runs out at the end of the season, while it is believed Sebastian Vettel’s current deal – announced last August – was for the 2010 and 2011 seasons.