The lack of interest from the German public concerns Helmut Marko
Helmut Marko hopes for a strong Mercedes team to rekindle German interest in F1.
Interest in F1 in Germany seems to be decreasing year after year. In January, Sky, which holds the broadcasting rights in the country, announced that it was having trouble finding a live broadcasting partner. Additionally, the German Grand Prix has been off the calendar since 2019. In comparison, Formula 1 is experiencing significant growth in other regions such as the rest of Europe, the United States, and Asia, where a new broadcasting contract was just signed this week for the Japanese audience.
For Helmut Marko, responsible for the young drivers program at Red Bull, this situation is unbelievable. He declared to German broadcaster Sport1, “What is happening currently in Germany is incredible.” In Austria, it is exactly the opposite. Formula 1 is booming. The Red Bull team is considered the Austrian national team, and the whole country supports it.
The winner of the 1971 Le Mans 24 hours is ready to support Mercedes in creating a new enthusiasm for Formula 1 in Germany. « I even hope that Mercedes will become strong again so that Germans can identify with them ».
A mystery for Stefano Domenicali
This lack of interest is a situation that even the President of F1, Stefano Domenicali, has described as a mystery. He hopes to see a race in Germany again, but regrets that nothing is being done in that regard. A Grand Prix must be interesting for all parties involved. We cannot cover all the costs. I don’t understand how it is possible to not organize an event around a Grand Prix nowadays. If they succeed, we will have another race in Germany, he said to Bild last August.
The former vice-president of Mercedes’ motorsport division, Norbert Haug, also described the situation in Germany as a tragedy, and one that all motorsport enthusiasts should be ashamed of.
With Sebastian Vettel’s retirement and Mick Schumacher being relegated to reserve driver, the hopes of German fans now rest on Nico Hülkenberg. However, with some fans no longer able to watch the races, a resurgence of German public love for F1 seems far away.
