F1, Hockenheim tries again
Circuits help write the history of F1, and Hockenheim is certainly one of them. The German track has hosted memorable races of the Circus, but the last GP dates back to July 28, 2019: not because Hockenheim has forgotten about F1 (on the contrary, perhaps it is the opposite), as shown by the recent contact between the circuit’s ownership and Stefano Domenicali about a possible return to the calendar.
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In a recent press conference, Domenicali himself admitted that the new ownership of Hockenheim contacted F1 for a medium-term return project. The Imola native gave the answer he gives to all circuits dreaming of entering the calendar: history is not enough, investments are needed on the circuit, infrastructure, and cold hard cash for the entry fee. In this respect, the 250 million euros invested in services (expansion of the Porsche Experience Centre, construction of a hotel and a motorsport park) are a better calling card than a few years ago, but not enough to convince the F1 leadership.
Domenicali’s words on Hockenheim
“It was Hockenheim that contacted us, and they initiated the first conversation,” said the F1 president. “As is known, they are developing a motorsport park in that area with a different goal.”
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“If they want to discuss a possible F1 event, the investment will have to be different, because our platform requires a different type of investment. But we have already discussed it.”
In recent years Hockenheim has stayed out of F1 because local authorities considered the costs of organizing the GP too high. With the new ownership, the chances of a return increase, but given the investment requested by the Circus, it will be almost impossible to avoid public contribution, a major hurdle like the change in mentality towards motorsport. The Germans, evidently, would struggle to stay in this F1 that has broadened its horizons: relations with Domenicali, in fact, have not always been great over the years; the CEO even accused Hockenheim of not knowing how to do business around a race. Statements from 2022 that caused a stir but anticipated everything we would see in the following four years.
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