Tuesday 6 Oktober at 10:01 : Oct.6 (GMM) Bernie Ecclestone has warned other grand prix promoters not to expect his assistance to the Hockenheim event to become a new trend.

With the circuit's operators no longer willing to absorb annual multi million euro losses, the F1 chief executive ultimately stepped in and will now share the "business risks" of hosting the event in future and ensuring Germany does not drop off the calendar.

"We wanted to return to Hockenheim, they wanted a race," the Briton told the Stuttgarter Zeitung newspaper.

But when asked if a similar approach could be taken to other struggling European promoters, 78-year-old Ecclestone answered: "Probably not. Hockenheim for us was something special. We've been going there for a long time."