A Formula 1 calendar without races in Germany? Inconceivably! This dogma was valid for decades, then gradually weakened – and today it simply no longer exists. If you ignore the corona-related guest appearance in the Eifel in 2020, the last time a Grand Prix on German soil made it into the calendar of the premier motorsport class was in 2019. Now even politicians apparently want to get involved.
Already on Tuesday, the FDP parliamentary group is said to have decided on a position paper that should set the course for a return of Formula 1 to Germany. This is reported by “Bild”, which wants to have access to the document.
In addition to other points, it is specifically “about strengthening young motorsports talent and about landing another German race in Formula 1,” according to a report in the newspaper. A demand that should please quite a few F1 fans in the Federal Republic.
However, the Free Democrats are not just concerned with pleasing the masses. According to “Bild”, the argument is that motorsport promotes the development of new technologies and stimulates the economy and tourism. It is also hoped that the comeback of Formula 1 on a German race track will lead to the resurgence of young German motorsports talent.
Important problem just touched on
“Our aim with the position paper is to show a signal of appreciation and to trigger a debate. It is our first position paper from sport. In doing so, we are highlighting the topic in particular. The position paper will then be used as a basis in the future if there are anything specific Decisions are coming,” Philipp Hartewig, sports policy spokesman for the FDP parliamentary group and head of the working group, is quoted in the report.
And further: “We would be in favor of a race coming to Germany again.”
However, there is a huge catch: the paper probably only touches on the basic problem, the lack of the enormous financial resources necessary to organize an F1 race. Private investors should therefore probably be brought on board.
One can certainly question whether those investors have stayed away so far because there was no political impetus.