Formula 1 has started initial talks about a possible return of the German GP to Hockenheim. Stefano Domenicali confirmed the contact but emphasized that any return of the circuit would only be considered in the medium term.
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Hockenheim hosted its last race in 2019, after losing its place on the calendar amid a lack of public investment to support the event. Now, the growing interest in F1 in Europe and a new financial structure at the circuit could pave the way for a different negotiation.
“For the first time, we are resuming contact with the people at Hockenheim to assess whether, in the future, in the medium term, and not in the short term, they could host a race again,” said Domenicali. The category’s CEO added that the circuit reached out to F1 and has already participated in an initial conversation.
However, the executive made it clear that holding a GP would require a higher level of investment than currently employed in Hockenheim’s projects. “They are developing the motorsport part with a different goal. If they want to discuss a possible F1 event, the investment needs to be different because our platform requires another type of funding,” he explained.
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The financial situation of the circuit has changed since its last appearance on the calendar. In 2024, Emodrom Group GmbH acquired 74.99% of the shares of the company responsible for Hockenheimring, while the city and the Badischer Motorsport-Club retained the remaining 25.01%. The new group of investors plans to invest 250 million euros by 2034, with projects including the expansion of the Porsche Experience Center, the construction of a hotel, and a Motorworld unit.
Despite this movement, it is still unclear whether the new investors want to take on the promotion of a GP. Hockenheim director Jorn Teske had already explained that the return would depend on a change in the economic model, as other events receive external funding that did not exist in Germany.
Another obstacle is the current limit of 24 rounds. A possible return of Hockenheim would likely require a rotation system with another race, a model that Barcelona and Belgium will start using from 2027. F1 is also negotiating with other markets in Africa, South America, and the Far East, increasing the competition for calendar space.
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