Fans hoping for the return of the German Grand Prix will be disappointed by a recent admission from a Nürburgring spokesperson saying the venue can’t afford Formula 1.
F1’s growth in recent years has seen demands on venues grow.
Greater infrastructure, entertainment and hospitality options and capacity have seen venues’ costs rise.
This has prompted the popular Dutch GP to drop off the calendar at the end of next year and the beloved Belgian GP to host four F1 events across six years from 2026.
F1 last visited the Nürburgring in the Covid-impacted 2020 season, hosting the Eifel GP.
Germany has a long association with F1 through iconic drivers such as Wolfgang von Trips, Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel and the involvement of Mercedes.
With Audi’s impending arrival on the F1 scene, one would think that the series would be keen to exploit the German connection, but, despite being first on the calendar in 1951, there are no talks for Nürburgring to return.
Alexander Gerhard, a spokesman for the Nürburgring told Sky Germany “For [financial] reasons, the plan is not feasible for us as a private company in this form.
“Since the last discussion, more than a year ago, no further talks have taken place with the organiser of the series,” he added.
Hockenheim trying to lure F1 back to Germany
Hockenheim has also played an important role in the history of the F1 German GP.
The venue last saw the sport race through its iconic stadium complex in 2019 and despite financial strife in the last decade, is making strides under the ownership of the Emodrom Group.
Tim Brauer, Managing Director of Emodrom wants to see F1 return to Hockenheim but expressed a cautious approach is necessary.
“We have been working in the background for more than four years to further develop the Hockenheimring as a leading racing circuit and are now keen to realise future-oriented projects,” he told Welt.
“Of course, we are also thinking about Formula 1, but we approach such considerations with great caution.
“We are not going to do anything crazy financially, but we are trying to find ways to bring Formula 1 back to Germany.”
Hockenheim will face stiff competition to fit into the 24-race F1 calendar with Rwanda and South Africa among candidates that have publicly declared their intention to host a GP.
Nico Hulkenberg keen for F1 German GP return
Motorsport Week spoke exclusively with Nico Hulkenberg at the 2024 Las Vegas GP to get his thoughts on a German GP reprisal.
Given he’s set to lead Audi into the sport next year thanks to his move to Sauber, he would be happy to see his home GP back on the calendar and wouldn’t be surprised if it did return once commercial hurdles are overcome.
I think it’s possible, but obviously there’s a lot of commercial factors that need to be met,” he said.
“I’m not involved, but in F1, never say never.
“Things change very quickly here. So, I wouldn’t be surprised if it happens in a few years’ time, if we had a German Grand Prix back.
“It would be very, very nice, personally.”
Asked which German venue he’d prefer, Hulkenberg said: “I also like Hockenheim, but I think personally I would somehow choose Nürburgring over Hockenheim.
“I think Nürburgring is a bit more, you know, old school, [a] very historic track,” he added.
“Yeah, especially also with the Nordschleife right next to it, which obviously we would not use, but still, I don’t know, it’s, yeah, it’s pretty iconic to me.”
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