Ecclestone questions F1 commitment to German GP return

Former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone is unsure how seriously the sport's CEO Stefano Domenicali is pushing for the German Grand Prix to return to the F1 calendar.

Ecclestone owned F1 for over 40 years before selling to Liberty Media in 2017, and says it is "disappointing" to see Germany not hosting a grand prix.

Once a staple of the F1 calendar, the race has not run since 2019, whilst it was also absent from the schedule in 2015 and 2017.

The Nürburgring stepped in to host the Eifel Grand Prix during the Covid era in 2020, but F1 has not since returned to the country.

Given the success of German drivers in F1, with Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel combining to win 11 of the previous 30 drivers' championships, it has been a surprising drop-off. 

"It is disappointing that Formula 1 has fallen asleep in Germany," Ecclestone told RTL/ntv and sport.de.

"In my time, the greatest support for me probably came from Germany. Now, there no longer seems to be the financial willingness to do what is necessary to bring Formula 1 back.

"I think Domenicali is providing what the American owners want to see - above all, more races. So I'm not so sure [how strongly he is committed to F1 returning to Germany]."

Mercedes should help more - Ecclestone

Domenicali has insisted in the past the absence of Germany from the F1 calendar is not for want of trying.

Whilst it is not because F1 does not want to race there, the Italian has suggested the right financial backing and willingness from promoters is not there.

To Ecclestone, he would have anticipated more from Mercedes to push for a true home grand prix, despite the race team being based in the United Kingdom.

"Germany needs a strong person to lead the way for Formula 1," the 93-year-old said.

"It doesn't necessarily have to be a German, it could be anyone who has the necessary respect to say, 'We have to do this, we have to bring Formula 1 back to Germany, where it belongs'.

"I would have thought that Mercedes would perhaps help a little more to ensure that there is a German GP again. But I suspect that it is difficult for them to make such decisions."