For the last Time in formula 1 in Germany?

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The Grand Prix of Germany in Hockenheim could be for a long time, the last one. The formula 1 has in the Land of Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel will only have a future if all the parties to their positions soften.

For Sebastian Vettel’s Hockenheim “is always something very Special,” Toto Wolff is looking forward to the “return home” for his Mercedes Team, the grandstands at the Grand Prix of Germany will be so fully since 2006, when Michael Schumacher won his last home win. In the euphoria, melancholy mixes, however, The race on Sunday (14:55 GMT at the DW live Ticker) threatens to be the farewell performance of the formula 1 in the Autonation is number one. It is already clear that it will be 2019 no the Grand Prix of Germany. The prospects, moreover, are murky.

“It is frustrating to see that we have found for a country with such a great racing Tradition, not a solution – and that, apparently, nobody is willing to support the racetracks and the financial risk off,” said formula 1’s chief of marketing Sean Bratches in the case of Auto Bild Motorsport. To work “of course to a solution”, what we really need is “flexibility” of the tracks was.

The Hype of the Era Schumacher is long gone

For the line operator in Germany, the formula 1 with a Antrittsgage of around 20 million Euro is already too expensive. The Hype of the Era of Schumacher, the expensive Tickets were often a year in advance is already out of print, is long gone. The Nürburgring saw 2015 and 2017, despite a valid contract of a sweep, the contract of the Hockenheimring from running with the waving of the checkered flag on Sunday.

The victory of Michael Schumacher in 2006, saw 70,000 spectators

After all, the best Audience since 2006 – at that time, the 70,000 spectators had come. This is partly due to the many Fans of Max Verstappen, who will be arriving from the Netherlands to your formula-1-Star cheer. So six days before the race were already of 67,000 tickets sold out, extra needs to be tribunes. So Hockenheim is, however, only rates a “black Zero”.

Hockenheim had to stretch for this, but enormous: children up to six years of age have free admission, young people up to 16 years can follow the race in almost all of the Seating categories for 45 Euro, the whole of the weekend for 50 Euro. Only in this way, the value of 2014 (52.000) and 2016 (57.000) could be increased significantly.

Financial risk too great

It will not go so further. The Hockenheimring and the Nürburgring made clear multiple times that they are no longer willing to bear the financial risk alone. The contrary to come up of Liberty Media, however, is limited, after all, the US companies know the value of the brand in formula 1, and collected in countries with partly questionable repute, often twice as much – also because the government of the for the image of Polish attacks willingly deep in the pocket.

On government support or help from the economy, to a large extent, the German routes were not able to build yet. Exactly, Georg Seiler is throbbing. “It can’t be that we provide the Playground and the bill for others to pay,” said the Hockenheim ring, managing Director of the SID. A potential donors, to the Seiler alludes to, is Mercedes. The global group from the middle of Stuttgart has been limited, however, to the support of marketing campaigns and advertising, which make the silver arrows on the track.

“The stadium atmosphere is unique,”

A lack of tension, the threat of Hockenheim is not

Lack of Action is still manageable, viewers are not numbers, Hockenheim, bot also to the transformation of the ancient high-speed line in a modern, all-round course after 2001 can be a really exciting race. Star-engineer Hermann Tilke, who was involved in the (re)construction of most of the current formula 1 courses, Hockenheim is still “something Special”. The motodrome was “unique, with its route and the stadium atmosphere” says Tilke.

Certainly not a trump card for the routes in Germany, the Trend to city courses in the formula 1. The chase through the streets of the Azerbaijan capital, Baku, about is one of the most Spectacular of the king class. Also in Miami, Hanoi, or Copenhagen, is soon to be raced.

In a few years, only on the Boulevard, don’t believe Tilke, however: “It is a privilege for the more urban courses, a formula 1 world championship will always contain completely different types of tracks.” Maybe, then, Yes, also for Germany.

jhr/ck (sid)