Will the alternation between circuits and Grands Prix make it possible to find historic tracks in Europe? If the door now seems open, with the first implementation of alternation for the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps from 2027, the Nürburgring circuit does not seem inclined to go through it. Indeed, if the principle of rotation could make it possible to reduce costs and could ensure an almost guaranteed filling of the stands at each biannual or triannual meeting, hosting Formula 1 would remain a loss-making affair depending on the circuit located in the 'Eifel.
If the Nürburgring wants to host Formula 1 in the near future, it must ensure that it can cover the organizational costs (which includes the financial agreement with F1 to obtain an appointment on the calendar) with the ticketing, which is currently not possible depending on the direction of the circuit. “For these reasons, the plan is not feasible for us as a private company in this form, said Alexander Gerhard, spokesperson for the Nürburgring, to Sky Sports Germany. Since the last discussion, more than a year ago, no further discussions have taken place with the championship organizer. »
Hockenheim alone in the running for the German GP?
The Nürburgring GP circuit – created in 1984 to replace the dangerous Nordschleife and return a place on the Formula 1 calendar – has hosted 20 Grands Prix between 1984 and 2020, with four different names: German Grand Prix, Grand Luxembourg Prize, European Grand Prix and Eifel Grand Prix. This last name was used in 2020, when Formula 1 made a surprising return to the Nürburgring to fill a calendar turned upside down by the Covid-19 health crisis.
-Between 2008 and 2014, the Nürburgring alternated with the Hockenheimring for the organization of the German Grand Prix, the latest example of an alternation between two circuits in the same country. The return of alternating Grands Prix could suggest a potential return of the German Grand Prix on one of these two circuits: if Hockenheim has the objective of returning to Formula 1 in the coming years, with the arrival of new investors in August 2024, this will therefore not be the case for the Nürburgring which will be content with the races already organized on its soil currently (Nürburgring 24 Hours, DTM, etc.).
