Wednesday 20 May at 18:30 : May 20 (GMM) After a key meeting on Wednesday, hopes that Hockenheim will organise a German grand prix next year have risen

The financially embattled circuit had said that without an external solution, it will pull off the calendar

The situation led to a meeting in Stuttgart involving the local state prime minister Gunther Oettinger and other stakeholders, including Mercedes parent Daimler

Afterwards, the politician noted the importance of the race to Baden-Württemberg. "I now see the chances of a positive solution at more than 50 per cent," Hockenheimring managing director Karl Josef Schmidt is quoted as saying by the news agency SID

He added that a meeting will now take place between Oettinger and F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone

Schmidt added: "And I assume the prime minister will not want to return without success."n