Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has said the sport could bring back the German Grand Prix “with the right organiser and the right offer”.
The German GP has not featured on the F1 calendar since the COVID-hit 2020 season, after which the sport never returned to the country.
Hockenheim was the last ‘regular’ host of the race with the Nürburgring hosting the final race in the region; the one-off Eifel GP.
That said, with the sport looking to expand its calendar with each passing year, Domenicali has not ruled out the flying F1 circus returning to one of its most iconic locations.
The former Ferrari boss hinted at a possible return to the country in the near future; however, this would only be possible under certain stringent conditions.
“We are open and prepared for any kind of discussion,” he said to Motorsport Magazin.
“I see some signs of optimism and I hope this will evolve in the coming months.
“We are interested in returning to Germany, but with the right organiser and the right offer.”
A repeat of a sticking point for the German GP?
Getting the “right offer” was the main reason why the sport left Germany, as F1 usually charges a hefty hosting fees from the circuit.
In return, the circuit aims to recoup costs with ticket sales, and the Government pitches in for the exposure and tourism benefits.
Hockenheim failed to meet Liberty Media’s demands, leading to the race being held only in 2019 asMercedes agreed to cover a substantial portion of the hosting fees. This was rumoured to be in the region of $15-$20 million.
A return to the GP-Strecke layout of the Nürburgring also would appear to be a distant dream owing to the substantial financial demands.
Domenicali, however, is in no hurry to make a decision; rather, he has simply nudged the ball into Germany’s court, leaving it to them to decide whether the sport has any future there.
“The good thing is that we’re not desperate, because we have many requests from all over the world,” asserted Domenicali.
“If the German market doesn’t see a return to Formula 1 as a priority, we have to accept it and look ahead.”
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