Last time in 2020
It has now been three years since Germany has hosted a Formula 1 Grand Prix. The last race to take place in Germany dates back to 2020 and was ‘favored’ by the Covid pandemic, which revolutionized that year’s calendar forcing the sport to rely on the historic circuits of ‘old’ Europe to complete the championship. On that occasion, the Nürburgring was the track that hosted the event and the official name of the race was the Eifel GP. The last proper German GP dates back to the previous year, when Max Verstappen at Hockenheim and the rain ruined the party for Mercedes’ 125th anniversary. Since then there has often been discussion of a possible return to the calendar of one of the symbolic countries of international motorsport, without however any concrete steps being taken.
Audi on the horizon
In recent years there has been no shortage of mutual accusations between the chief executive officer of F1, Stefano Domenicali, and several key figures from the top management level of German motorsport. Now, however, something could change on the horizon, also thanks to the future entry of Audi into Formula 1 with its own team. The German team will make its Formula 1 debut in 2026, taking the place of Sauber, and certainly would be pleased with the idea of racing even in front of its own fans.
It is not yet clear if and when this will be possible, but in the meantime the leaders of the Hockenheim circuit have tried to outline the current situation, explaining the need for a compromise that can satisfy both parties.
Constant talks
“We look forward to further conversations about the possibility of bringing Formula 1 back to Germany” – Hockenheim chief executive Jorn Teske said in an interview for Sport1 – “and we are delighted that the entry of Audi has brought a new dynamic to the discussion. But we’ve always been in contact with Formula 1. We’ve never stopped.” A concrete possibility, also expressed in the past by Stefano Domenicali, is that the German track could share a place in the calendar with another facility, so as to alternate in rotation with other venues. This would be an intelligent solution to bring more tracks into the ‘tour’ of the sport and at the same time to limit costs.
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Rotation with the Nürburgring
“We are convinced that hosting a Formula 1 race shouldn’t financially ruin us” – reiterated Jorn Teske – in this regard, we need to find a way to reconcile the various interests. Hosting rotating races? That would be absolutely no problem. I think it’s a great idea to have such a solution. I can understand Formula 1 wanting some variety in the calendar. And at the same time we would commit the enormous resources necessary to organize a Formula 1 race ‘only’ every two years, while still maintaining the image and status of a Formula 1 circuit”. At this point, however, rather than involving another country in the ‘shift’, the primary objective would be to restore the old alternation precisely with the Nürburgring. “If there was a rotation of the two German circuits, and I mean our colleagues at the Nurburgring, this would certainly be good for the German fans and also for me,” concluded Jorn Teske.
However, at least for the short-term, Hockenheim looks unlikely to feature again in the pinnacle of motorsport.
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