Sebastian Vettel says it is a “big shame” that Formula 1 has not retained the German Grand Prix, but has suggested its absence might provoke a long-term revival.
Only the Belgian, Italian and British Grands Prix have been held more times in Formula 1 than German’s 64, while through the late 1990s and early 2000s both Hockenheim and the Nurburgring hosted a round.
But Hockenheim and Nurburgring entered a race-sharing deal from 2008, which the latter reneged on after the 2013 event, meaning there was no race in 2015 and 2017.
Hockenheim’s expected departure after 2018 was deferred by one year after Mercedes stepped in to finance the 2019 event, but the marque was unwilling to continue its involvement for 2020.
Formula 1 confirmed its 22-round 2020 calendar on Thursday, with the addition of Vietnam, return of the Netherlands, and renewal of rounds in Spain, Britain, Mexico and Italy.
Germany, which was one of the five events without a contract heading into this year, was not listed.
“I don’t know, nothing needs to be done maybe next year or in the future it will show Formula 1 needs to be in Germany and hopefully Formula 1 will start to look into it again,” said Vettel.
“I think it is not possible for Formula 1 to lose races in countries where there is a big history, like the UK, Italy, Germany.
“So it is a big shame but I guess it is a money question but as I said maybe nothing needs to happen.
“Just realising that we need to race in Germany and these countries is enough to bring the Grand Prix back.
“I just hope that wherever we go as a replacement we will have as good as a race as we have in Germany and as many people in the grandstands which I’m not sure is a given.”
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