Vettel is doubting his participation in one last home Grand Prix before his retirement
Sebastian Vettel asserts that he is not sure if he will be able to race in front of his fans again before his retirement, and emphasizes the importance of keeping certain European circuits on the calendar.
Absent from the calendar since the completely crazy race in 2019 at Hockenheim, the German Grand Prix could soon make its return to the schedule if we are to believe some rumors. In 2020, with a calendar disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic, Formula 1 returned to the Nürburgring circuit, but since then, Germany has completely disappeared from the Formula 1 landscape.
An anomaly for everyone in the world of motorsport, and even more so for German drivers, who no longer have their traditional races at home. While Mick Schumacher will undoubtedly have time to wait to race in front of his home crowd, for Sebastian Vettel, the story is completely different and we wonder if the four-time world champion will have the opportunity to race on his home soil again.
“I don’t know if Germany will come back in time for me,” said the 34-year-old Aston Martin driver. “Obviously, I’ve had the privilege of racing in Germany for many years. I don’t know. I think ultimately, obviously, if you look at the places we go to, I think Germany is not ready to pay that kind of amount to have a Grand Prix. It’s as simple as that.”
Beyond the example of Germany, Vettel wants to emphasize the difficulty that other European tracks are facing – or may face. Other regions, other countries in Europe are experiencing difficulties. I think Spa is a very good example. And it’s a shame what we saw last year, with the rain canceling the race and people not getting a refund for their tickets. But I think blaming Spa would be a mistake because they already struggle to find the money they’re losing.
It’s a shame to lose Germany. It would be a shame to lose Spa. It would be a shame to lose Spain, which had a lot to offer. And if these countries are no longer willing to pay the high entry fees, they will be crossed off this list. And that would be a shame. It is certain that certain races, like Silverstone, Monza, have a guarantee, but I don’t know. We will see what happens in the coming years. But it would be great if Germany was back on the calendar. But I doubt it.
