Mexican GP prospects for 2020 look bleak once again

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It looks increasingly likely that Mexico will fall off Formula 1's calendar next year, following the country's inability to secure a deal with Liberty Media.

In February, Mexican president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador revealed that he would in all likelihood pull the plug on the government's funding of the Mexican Grand Prix.

That peril has come to pass after the event's organizer, the Corporación Interamericana de Entretenimiento, failed to convince the government to commit to an annual 800 million pesos subsidy associated with the race.

Subsequently, the CIE could not reach an agreement with F1 commercial rights holder Liberty Media for an extension of its current deal which ends after this year's race.

Barcelona 'in the process' of renewing Spanish GP deal

Mexico is one of several races whose future is uncertain, although it now looks pretty cut and dried for Sergio Perez's home event.

Formula 1 CEO Chase Carey announced that next year's schedule would once again include 21 races. With the arrival on the docket next year of Hanoi and Zandvoort, two current races will necessarily fall to the side.

Mexico's departure now seems a given but Silverstone, Monza, Barcelona and Hockenheim have all yet to secure new contracts with F1 from 2020.

It is believed that a new deal for the British Grand Prix is around the corner while Monza has announced that an agreement in principle - to be signed and sealed this summer - exists between itself and Liberty.

Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya claims it is "in the process" of renewing its Spanish Grand Prix deal with F1, but many doubt the venue will still be on the calendar come 2020.

As for Hockenheim, the race's future from 2020 could depend on Mercedes' continued sponsorship of the German Grand Prix as the event vitally requires funding from a title sponsor.

"There is an option which is not up to us for 2020 for one further year, but for the moment we have no decision if this will be taken or not," Hockenheim marketing boss Jorn Teske told RaceFans.net.

“It might be a point even the decision of Mercedes to extend the title sponsorship is a crucial point for them."

"If Liberty Media [finds] another new partner interested in title sponsorship in Germany it might be the chance."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.