Sebastian Vettel believes there is a bigger reason than just money for the loss of the German Grand Prix.
Recently, the 2020 Formula 1 calendar was revealed and is awaiting official approval from the FIA with a record 22 races set to take place.
However, there is disappointment that Hockenheim will be the only event not to continue next season following a successful two-year return, including the highly-entertaining wet race back in July
“Maybe next year or in the future, it will show that Formula 1 needs to be in Germany and hopefully Formula 1 will start to look into it again,” Vettel said on a possible return.
“I think it is not possible for F1 to lose races in countries where there is a big history, like the UK, Italy, Germany, so it is a big shame but I guess it is a money question.
“I just hope that wherever we go as a replacement we will have as good as a race as we have in Germany and as many people in the grandstands which I’m not sure is a given.”
Vettel did admit, however, that his country has its own trouble maintaining interest in motorsport and explained the lack of German drivers coming through the ranks.
“The problem is that our sport, I think, is the best sport in the world but it has always been expensive and has now become so expensive that makes it nearly impossible for normal to start racing and do motorsport at a very young age,” he said.
“In general we have very strong championships held in Germany. We have great infrastructure and great go-kart tracks, amazing circuits too, but to be honest, if you look at the grid is it mostly people from abroad, not that many Germans left.
“So I guess it got to a point where it is way too expensive so you are only pushing towards the elite to be able to introduce them to the sport and that I think is the core problem to it.
Also Read:
- Vettel blasts money first approach to F1 races as German GP falls off calendar
- Haas ‘okay’ with 22-race calendar if costs don’t rise
“Obviously when I was starting Michael [Schumacher] was becoming world champion for the first time, we had more than 100 kids turning up at the races in Germany to race, there was hype as it was the first time a German did really well in Formula 1, winning the championship.
“Then after he retired you will never create the same hype again. So they are the main reasons why we are lacking kids that try it.
“I don’t think we are lacking talent, it is just a matter of who is trying, how many are trying and then how many succeed.
“I think motorsport is still popular if you look at the grid in karting in Italy, in mini-series you still have over 100 kids but not many Germans so that is the problem with Germans I guess.
“We had so many in Formula 1 at some point and since then it has been going down so that is a shame if it keeps going down.”