Michael Schumacher’s Son Reignites German GP Hopes With F1’s Bold Change in 2026

The German GP was never the same after Michael Schumacher retired in 2006. The race that attracted over 100,000 spectators dropped to sub-50,000 attendance levels after the 7-time champ bid adieu to F1. The organizers couldn’t break even on their investment and the race which was once a cornerstone of the F1 calendar, lost its spot. 4 years since its last iteration, the one-off Eifel GP at the Nurburgring, Michael’s son Mick Schumacher, has spoken out.

The German GP was a double staple on the F1 calendar from the mid-1990s to 2006. The pinnacle of motorsport raced at both iconic circuits, Hockenheim and Nurburgring. However, after the Red Baron’s 2006 retirement, the two locations alternated their spots on the F1 calendar. Even Germany’s second mega success, Sebastian Vettel, who won four consecutive championships for Red Bull, couldn’t revive the lost fanfare. Other Germans, including 2016 champ Nico Rosberg, Nico Hulkenberg, and finally, Mick Schumacher, who made his debut in 2021, fared worse.

However, come 2026, things will start looking up for the Central European country with Audi’s entry. They bring a higher performance promise than Sauber and the sustainability push with the new regulations will also serve as an image enhancer for F1. Speaking about the German GP’s potential return to F1, Mick Schumacher told Divebomb, “I think that they’re trying to come back to Germany. Obviously, it’s a bit difficult at the moment with everything that’s going on,” he added, referring to the ROI concerns of the organizers.

However, the Alpine WEC driver remained optimistic. “Hopefully, with the future coming and the new generation of cars, maybe Germany will be more willing to get Formula 1 back to Germany, which will be amazing. But yeah, I don’t have any info to whether or not if it’s going to be back on the grid for WEC.”

Though many German fans would love for F1 to recenter itself to its European roots, the sport is busy conquering the world and the USA. F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali had attempted to revive the German GP on priority, but nothing came of that. Let’s check out why this problem persists.

Why F1 is unable to revive Michael Schumacher’s home race in Germany

In 2022, 4-time champion Sebastian Vettel wasn’t optimistic about his home race’s return to the calendar. With F1’s vision of an American expansion in the backdrop, the German said, “I think in the end. if you look at the places where we are going, Germany is not prepared to pay that sort of money to have the Grand Prix.”

Stefano Domenicali’s statement that year about the German GP backed Vettel’s statements. The F1 CEO revealed, “If anyone wants a German GP, it’s me. I just don’t see any representatives in Germany who want to sit down with us and make a constructive suggestion,” he added, referring to the absence of interest stemming from the economic concerns that they suffered after Michael Schumacher’s retirement. In the same year, Mick advocated for the Nurburgring’s return. “Formula 1 belongs in Germany,” were his resounding words.

However, earlier this year, Hockenheim’s circuit director Jorn Teske put a dampener on the hopes. “If nothing changes or Formula 1 is not prepared to make major compromises, it cannot work,” he said, addressing the gap in fees that newer hosts can pay compared to traditional European circuits. So as it stands, Germany is quite far from reviving the Formula scene. Do you feel the iconic tracks deserve to return to the pinnacle of motorsport? Let us know in the comments below.