Nico Hülkenberg will be the only regular German driver in Formula 1 in 2023. There will be no race in Germany. Bernie Ecclestone says Germany has lost its importance as a Formula 1 country.
The 92-year-old sees Germany at a low point in enthusiasm for the racing series. “I ask myself: what’s going on with Germany? The country had so many world champions. But the public seems to have lost interest in Formula 1”, said ex-promoter Ecclestone before the start of the season in Bahrain on Sunday (March 5th, 2023). The Briton was Formula 1’s chief marketer for around 40 years before he was dismissed in 2017.
“We had such great races there in front of such a great crowd – but it’s all gone. I’m really sorry that we lost Germany for Formula 1. There aren’t any more races either. It looks like Germany would no longer exist for Formula 1”Ecclestone continues: “Maybe the organizers didn’t try hard enough. They probably organized too small, nice, local races and not international races in world champion format. They didn’t grow with them.”
Haug: “From great power to developing country”
The last time Formula 1 stopped in Germany was in 2020 – but the race at the Nürburgring only came about because of the racing calendar improvised by the corona pandemic.
The former Mercedes Motorsport boss Norbert Haug also recognizes a loss of importance of the Formula 1 location Germany. That Germany “Has developed back from the Formula 1 great power that is at the center to a little-noticed developing country without its own race and without a driver with victory let alone title chances is a tragedy”said the 70-year-old of the “Pforzheimer Zeitung”.
Only Hulkenberg still there
He rules out the possibility of a Grand Prix taking place in Germany again in the foreseeable future. “The train has left. Germany, the former locomotive of past decades with two Formula 1 races per year and twelve driver world championship titles won between 1994 and 2016, is sitting in the last wagon, i.e. where the red lantern is hanging.”decided Haug.
After the resignation of four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel at the end of the season and Mick Schumacher’s departure from the US team Haas, there is only one regular German Formula 1 driver. Nico Hulkenberg replaced Schumacher, who in turn became a reserve driver at Mercedes.
Mick Schumacher waiting
To see only one German in the starting line-up is unusual. Michael Schumacher started a motorsport boom in Germany with his first world title in 1994. One talent after the other naturally made its way from the kart track to Formula 1. In 2010 there were at times seven Germans on the grid at the same time, and Hülkenberg was already there at the time.
Mick Schumacher is a test driver for Mercedes this season.
Now the 35-year-old is the last German. Mick Schumacher, son of record world champion Michael, is at least sitting in the Mercedes garage when the illustrious circle of 20 racing drivers step on the gas pedal.
“I’m happy even when I’m on the substitutes’ bench”, he said. As a substitute driver, he can learn from a seven-time world champion team with highly professional structures, his colleagues are record champion Lewis Hamilton and the highly regarded George Russell. But Schumacher will not collect much driving experience. Normally anyway.
experience before talent
At Haas, Schumacher failed due to the fact that team boss Günther Steiner and owner Gene Haas had no patience. Because he has undeniable talent, only the successes were missing. Haas opted for the experience of the 181-time Grand Prix starter Hülkenberg, who himself was “only” a substitute from 2020 to 2022, but showed his qualities when he was needed. Hulkenberg must “Don’t learn anything more, just get into the rhythm”said Steiner at last.
However, Schumacher can hope to become a regular driver again soon. “Some people have already expressed an interest over the winter”the 23-year-old recently said about his prospects for 2024: “Sure, there’s something.”
No new drivers in sight
And behind? Follows little to nothing, and that is the real problem. For David Beckmann and Lirim Zendeli, a regular place in Formula 2 can no longer be financed. In Formula 3, the German-Danish driver Oliver Goethe and Sophia Flörsch makes a new attempt there after a two-year break.