Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone says German drivers Nico Rosberg and Sebastian Vettel are bad for the racing business.

The 84 year-old business magnate made a statement after Germany pulled out from the calendar of the current season for the first time since 1960.

In an exclusive with Rosberg for the official Formula 1 webpage, Ecclestone said the 2014 runner-up and the four-time champion Vettel are not putting much effort into boosting their individual profiles.

"As the cancellation of the German Grand Prix indicates, Germany is a terrible market for Formula 1," Ecclestone shared.

"Sebastian is also not doing much for F1," he added "People hardly recognise him on the street."

"On the contrary Lewis [Hamilton] is a hero in the UK," Ecclestone, who is also an Englisman, told reporters. "The British love Formula 1."

"Ecclestone picked out world champion Hamilton, who is often seen at A-list parties, as a good promoter of F1, which he says has in turn boosted its profile in the UK and across the world," according to a report by Autosport.

The CEO went on to say that Hamilton is the best champion F1 has had "in a long, long time," adding "he manages to get to all different walks of life: red carpet, fashion business, and music - you name it."

"When it comes to F1, I am a huge Lewis fan because he is a super promoter of the sport," he went on to explain.

"From a pure business aspect - sorry Nico if I have to say this - you are not so good for my business," the F1 boss told Rosberg, to which the Mercedes driver responded "Wait a minute. That is a hard call." 

"Bernie is the commercial rights holder so the more outgoing the champion is, the better," said Rosberg.

"I also do think about our sport and want to make an effort - but in my own way," saying "I am Nico and not Lewis."

In response, Ecclestone shared that it "sounds harder than it is meant."

Hamilton, who scored pole position at the last race in Monaco suffered from a strategic pit stop strategy, resulting in his team-mate Rosberg taking the weekend's race day win.

Hamilton heads to the next race in Canada with a 10-point advantage over his team-mate and 18 over Ferrari's Vettel.