It’s been many years since the Nürburgring was on the Formula One calendar, due to an ownership change in 2014. However, plans are currently in motion to return the event to Formula One as early as the 2019 season.
The Nürburgring had long been an iconic track in the Formula One scene and had a lot of history in motorsport. In 2012, the threat of bankruptcy loomed overhead and the track was sold to Capricorn Development in 2013, with the company taking full ownership in 2014. Later that same year, a majority stake in the circuit was sold to Russian billionaire Viktor Kharitonin. With the Nürburgring’s Formula One contract having expired in 2013, efforts to secure a contract for 2015 onward were unsuccessful and the circuit dropped from the calendar.
The Hockenheimring will play host to the German Grand Prix in the 2018 season, as per their contract. However, as of right now, the German Grand Prix is set to disappear from the calendar in 2019.
But that may be changing. With Liberty Media now in control of Formula One and the Nürburgring having appointed Mirco Markfort as their CEO in Spring 2016, both parties will have the chance to negotiate with fresh faces and with both the sport and circuit in stronger positions than in 2015.
There is some more hope for the German Grand Prix’s Nürburgring future, with Liberty Media having made a hard effort to retain and restore many of the important European events like the French Grand Prix. This gives a high chance of a deal forming and the circuit returning to action as early as 2019.
The media has speculated that meetings were held between Markfort and Formula One CEO Chase Carey during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend to discuss plans to return the circuit to action. It has since been confirmed that there have been meetings between the two parties, but no confirmation has been made about the status of those talks.
However, with a little hope now appearing for on German circuit, the same cannot be said for the other circuit. In 2008, the profitability of holding the German Grand Prix at the Hockenheimring, with estimates predicting a roughly €6m financial loss. The circuits contract with the sport was eventually renewed, though it relied heavily on the support of the Formula One Group, who agreed to cover any financial loss in the event.
But that contract extension is set to expire at the end of 2018, with no clear signs as to whether or not the event will be renewed for 2020 onward. With many circuits having complained about financial impacts over the past few seasons in Formula One, it is believed that the Hockenheimring’s financial position has changed. This means that the venue could still require the financial assistance from the sport; assistance that the Liberty Media may not be able or willing to offer.
