Will Germany return in a big way to the F1 calendar?
- GPblog.com
At some point, the Formula One calendar is full. Since Liberty Media took over, it seems to have become increasingly difficult to secure a spot on the calendar. Joe Saward says Germany wants a permanent spot on the calendar again. At least for ten years.
Liberty Media is steadily expanding the calendar. The company has never made a secret of wanting to fill up the calendar well, especially with races in the United States. With the addition of the Miami GP this year and also the Las Vegas GP next year, they are making great strides. However, the problem is that the F1 teams with all its employees are increasingly resistant to the expansion of the calendar. On the other hand, calendar expansion is also not always compatible with F1's sustainability story.
Germany covets long-term F1 deal
Another complaint that is often heard about the expansion of the F1 calendar is that F1 is in danger of losing its traditional roots in Europe. So also writes F1 journalist Joe Saward on his website. Following on from this, Saward manages to report the following: "I've been hearing rumors for weeks now that the Germans are getting more and more ambitious and want a race on the calendar for ten years." In doing so, the journalist says that it can probably only happen at the Hockenheim circuit, as the Nürburgring is owned by a Russian oligarch. The FIA is still not waiting to cooperate with such people.
According to Saward, there are several points that speak for Germany in the battle for a spot on the calendar. Although there are no German drivers competing for the podium spots and although Mercedes is not seen as a great German team by the Germans, there are sounds that Porsche and Audi will be represented in the sport starting in 2026. Saward additionally says that there are regional investors from the Automobilclub von Deutschland who can help well and have a big advantage over the Nürburgring's Russian money. Finally, Germany has a new finance minister, Christian Lindner, who loves cars and is reportedly a "Porsche freak" with a racing license.