F1 CEO addresses potential return of historic grand prix

F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has admitted it could explore a return of the German Grand Prix in the near future.

Germany was once a traditional stop on the F1 calendar, but high costs in the early 2010s saw Hockenheim and Nurburgring host the event on a rotational basis.

However, after the 2019 event, the German Grand Prix disappeared from the schedule, with various new locations since striking deals with F1 as the calendar expanded.

Despite having no grand prix, there is a significant German presence in F1 with Mercedes and Audi, as well as Audi's veteran driver Nico Hulkenberg.

But while there are no guarantees that the event will make a return, Domenicali has acknowledged that it could soon explore striking up a new agreement.

“With regard to the potential, we don’t have to forget that we have Audi stepping into the business. We have big partners that have their home base in Germany.

“Now, Germany wants us to think in the medium term if they can come back into the calendar.

“Or, more importantly, being as it was 20 years ago - one of the most important markets for F1.”

“I think this is the basis for this discussion. The new situation in Germany is starting to move in the direction that I see potentially in the future, being a very interesting market that will have a positive effect on both the media side but also maybe on the promoter side.

“It will not, in that case, [be] a certain call, but it definitely will happen. This is important to remember.”

While 2019 marked the last official German Grand Prix, F1 visited Nurburgring in 2020 during the Covid-impacted campaign, with the race held under the 'Eifel Grand Prix' banner.