Formula 1 returning to Germany increasingly appears to be a question of when rather than if, with Stefano Domenicali confirming discussions have already taken place over bringing the German Grand Prix back to Hockenheim.
But while Formula 1’s president and CEO sees Germany becoming an important market again, the obstacle remains familiar. Hosting a modern Grand Prix costs serious money, and neither Hockenheim nor the Nürburgring has enjoyed an easy financial relationship with F1.
Johnny Herbert believes that is a shame. The Briton, who won the 1999 European Grand Prix at the Nürburgring, wants Germany back on the calendar: “The one place where I would like to see a race back is Germany. To have either Hockenheim or Nürburgring back on the circuit would be awesome.
“It would also be important for us as European fans. It’s always had that massive support from the German fans, especially from the time when Michael Schumacher was racing. Now it is all about the success of Mercedes.
“Germany has always been a very important part of the history of motorsport and Formula 1. And obviously Michael was the kingpin for a long time. It’s a shame we don’t go back there. It’s unbelievable,” the 62-year-old Briton told Vision4Sport.
Germany last hosted Formula 1 on July 28, 2019, when Max Verstappen won a chaotic rain-hit race at Hockenheim. Since then, Germany has disappeared from a championship in which Mercedes remains one of the biggest manufacturers and Audi has joined the grid as a works operation.
Money remains the German Grand Prix problem
Herbert believes the explanation is straightforward: “I think it is purely financial. From what I remember, Hockenheim always struggled to be able to pay the F1 entry fee that they need to be able to host the Grand Prix.
“Hockenheim and even Nürburgring have always struggled financially, Nürburgring especially. There’s been a lot of things that have happened over the years which have been loss-making. They put on a fun fair once to try to generate more interest from outside, with roller coaster rides and stuff like that but it was all a little bit dodgy!” recalled Herbert.
That financial equation remains crucial because Formula 1 has no shortage of countries prepared to pay heavily for calendar positions. Germany therefore has to demonstrate not merely that it possesses historic circuits and motorsport heritage, but that a Grand Prix makes commercial sense.
There are signs that Formula 1 believes the German market is becoming stronger. Liberty Media president and CEO Derek Chang pointed towards changes in the country’s broadcasting landscape as one reason for optimism.
Chang said: “Germany is a market in flux, with the RTL/Sky merger. I think also you’ve got some of the digital players, the streaming platforms that are coming into Germany. So it’s a market that probably a few years ago was not as robust, and it’s looking now more robust.”
Domenicali sees Germany changing
For Domenicali, that increased media competition could become part of a broader German F1 revival: “Definitely RTL was an important step in our need to have more reach in that market. I’m pretty sure that in the future, when it will be the right negotiation, the market with Germany will be different, for example, from what we have now in Italy or in the UK.
“There will be a digital platform or other streamer that will apply for the tender, because that’s a market that possibly will have that opportunity to put us in a situation that we need to make the right decision for the future.”
More importantly for hopes of a German Grand Prix, Domenicali acknowledged the country’s growing relevance to Formula 1 itself: “But with regard to the potential, I would say that we don’t have to forget that we have Audi that stepped into the business. We have Mercedes. We have big partners that have their home base in Germany.
“I think now Germany wants us to think in the medium-term if they can come back into the calendar, or even more important, being, as it was 20 years ago, one of the most important markets for Formula 1. I think that is the base for this discussion,” explained Domenicali.
Can Germans rediscover Schumacher-era magic?
Germany’s problem is not motorsport pedigree. Few countries have more. During Michael Schumacher’s peak, German enthusiasm became so intense that the country regularly supported two Formula 1 races.
Hockenheim hosting the German Grand Prix and the Nürburgring frequently appearing under the European Grand Prix banner. Schumacher’s five consecutive World Championships with Ferrari between 2000 and 2004 turned F1 into mainstream entertainment across Germany.
In much the same way that, in this era, Max Verstappen mobilised the Orange Army, Schumacher gave German supporters their own dominant superstar. But the phenomenon proved difficult to sustain.
Schumacher’s retirement contributed to a sizeable drop in interest. His comeback with Mercedes produced no victories, while even Sebastian Vettel’s four consecutive World Championships failed to recreate the extraordinary national fixation generated during Schumacher’s peak.
Formula 1 wants Germany back
That leaves Formula 1 with an unusual challenge. Germany does not need a Grand Prix for international recognition or tourism promotion in the same way some newer hosts use F1. The commercial case therefore needs to stand on spectators, corporate backing, broadcasting value and sponsorship.
Domenicali nevertheless believes circumstances are moving in the right direction: “Definitely, the new situation in Germany starts to move in the direction that I see Germany potentially in the future being a very interesting market that will have a positive effect both on the media side.
“Also maybe on the promoter side. It will not be, in that case, a short-term call, but definitely will happen, and this is very, very important to remember,” concluded the F1 Chief.
So Hockenheim appears to have a genuine route back, particularly after talks with Formula 1 already started. The Nürburgring remains an obvious alternative with enormous history and Herbert among those advocating its return. Neither track, however, can survive on nostalgia.
Formula 1 wants Germany back. Germany has the circuits, manufacturers and motorsport heritage to justify it. The remaining question is whether somebody is prepared to pay for it — and whether German fans can rediscover an appetite for F1 a generation after Schumacher made the sport almost impossible to ignore.