German GP: government funding necessary for Formula 1 return. The German Grand Prix has been absent since 2019 due to high costs.

The starting grid for the next Formula 1 World Championship is already set and complete, along with the 2026 calendar. Beyond the entry of Cadillac, fans will witness the debut of Audi, a German brand like Mercedes, and the continuation of Nico Hülkenberg’s career with this new team. Yet, analyzing the upcoming championship, one major and historic event remains absent: the German Grand Prix.

The race has not taken place since 2019, when F1 visited Hockenheim before returning the following year to the Nürburgring. In that case, it was held as the Eifel GP, included in the championship during the height of the Covid-19 emergency, with the race taking place behind closed doors. On multiple occasions, the AvD (Automobilclub von Deutschland) has questioned the feasibility of an F1 return, which once again appears very complicated and unlikely, according to statements from Lutz Leif Linder, President of AvD.

“The license fees and safety costs for an event of this scale cannot be covered by the only source of income, which is ticket sales,” Linder explained to Motorsport Total. He acknowledged the growing popularity of Formula 1, which has, however, led to a significant increase in the costs of organizing Grand Prix events, along with the addition of emerging countries investing heavily in the sport.

These figures are now considered too high and do not meet the quotas required by Liberty Media, meaning the German GP cannot be organized without state or federal funding. “It would be worth government support,” Linder continued, “considering two weeks of setup, one week of dismantling, and four days of events with fans and teams. The entire region would benefit in terms of tourism and long-term economic growth, but other countries have proven creative in this regard.”