German Grand Prix Analysis by Toto Wolff Considered a Catastrophe
Formula 1 Bearing a Long Hiatus from German Soil
In the world of Formula 1 racing, Germany remains an absentee, having last hosted a race five years ago. According to Mercedes Motorsport chief Toto Wolff, the reasons for this absence lie in stubborn old structures and reluctance to renew.
Wolff, currently residing in Germany's industrial heartland, finds a swift return of Formula 1 highly unrealistic. He stated in an interview with the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung" that the mood there seems not to support a Formula 1 race at present.
Wolff attributed the lack of confidence in making a profit from a German Grand Prix to the country's entrenchment in age-old practices: "It seems not to be willing to make an investment," he added.
In contrast, the English Silverstone race track, surviving on age-old tradition, manages to thrive in business. Wolff believes that if commercial sense supports hosting a Grand Prix on such an established track, it should also be feasible in Germany.
While Formula 1 is witnessing a boom globally, Germany is an exception to this trend. In Germany, no applicants seem to be eager to host a Grand Prix, with the high entry fee of approximately 35.5 million euros being a significant hurdle.
Should a promoter wish to host a Grand Prix, it's either for financial gain or to improve their global image. However, local German entities appear less interested due to a lack of business potential. Wolff suggests that Formula 1 may need to reevaluate its approach if local promoters don't foresee profitability.
To date, there have been 79 races on German soil, the last one in 2020 at the Nürburgring as a substitute due to the Corona pandemic. The previous World Championship race in Hockenheim was in 2019, with Mercedes as the title sponsor.
Sources: ntv.de, sue/dpa
The resurgence of Formula 1 racing in Germany seems elusive, considering the country's skepticism towards hosting a race due to financial concerns and reluctance to invest. Despite the global success of Formula 1, the sports racing scene in Germany appears to be hesitant, with no applicants willing to shoulder the high entry fee for a Grand Prix.
