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Hockenheim officials say a German Grand Prix on the Formula 1 calendar is a must if Mick Schumacher gets a full-time seat in the series.
Germany currently doesn't have a contract in place after the 2019 event, which will once again take place at the Hockenheim circuit.
Schumacher, who is currently racing in Formula 2, made his F1 test debut in Bahrain earlier this year, driving for both Ferrari and Alfa Romeo.
Director of the Hockenheim circuit, Georg Seiler, told Autosport: "The problem will be if we no longer have a Formula 1 contract today, it will be difficult to get a Formula 1 contract in the future as well.
"Because then the basis is different. The demands are certainly even higher than if you have a current contract.
"If Mick Schumacher drives in Formula 1, Formula 1 must come to Germany. That is our conviction. Contracts are possible. But we will not conclude a contract that could mean a loss."
Possible demonstration for Schumacher in a Ferrari
Seiler added that he and his team are working on organising a track demonstration with Schumacher present, as the F2 schedule doesn't include Hockenheim.
Jorn Teske, Hockenheim's marketing boss, said that "there could maybe be a test, or a demonstration run in an old Ferrari from his father, or whatever. We would like to see him on the track in an F1 car. That's important."
Teske admitted disappointed over F2 not being included on the F2 calendar, as it was a chance for German fans to see the Schumacher name potentially on top of the timesheets.
"We made the decision makers aware very early that this is important for the German race," he said.
"We told them when Mick won the F3 championship at our race in Hockenheim, we told them when it was announced that he's racing for Prema in F2.
"We tried to convince them and made a lot of pressure. When the F2 calendar was published, we were really disappointed.
"I know there were efforts afterwards from Liberty Media, that's good. I think they realised lately the importance of Mick for Germany, the big enthusiasm Mick is bringing to the sport and to Germany. Maybe at that time it was too late."
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G. Zhou
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Replies (3)
Login to replyRam Samartha
Posts: 1,172
Interesting how Seb has never really captured a huge fan base in Germany. Not big enough to fill Hockenheim's seats anyway. I don't know that the folks as Hockenheim's wishful thinking is enough to pin the future of a German GP on the Schumacher name. How many showed up to watch him win the F3 title at Hockenheim?
f1fan0101
Posts: 1,804
Yes, but go to the Nurburgring!
f1dave
Posts: 782
I don't get this strange obsession with names. Only the best drivers should get the seats, not the sons of former drivers.