“Turned Into a Tragedy”: Vettel, Schumacher Given Gloomy Picture as Germany Mourns F1 Loss
Follow Us
Germany has a rich history in F1 and continues to produce talented drivers, most recently Mick Schumacher, and successful teams. But the current state of the sport in the country is far from its former glory. Germany enjoyed a golden era in the sport, with Michael Schumacher winning seven World Championships, Sebastian Vettel winning four in a row, and Rosberg taking the most recent title in 2016.
Norbert Haug, the former vice president of Mercedes’ motorsport, has expressed his disappointment in the decline of Formula 1 in Germany. Haug has a long history with the sport, having played a key role in the partnership between Mercedes and McLaren in the mid-1990s and being involved in F1 during the height of Michael Schumacher’s success.
In an interview with Germany’s RND, Haug stated, “In Germany, Formula 1 has turned into a tragedy that every motorsport enthusiast can only be ashamed of.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
“For a dozen years, in the late 1990s and 2000s, there were two Formula 1 races a year in Germany, in front of full ranks and over 100,000 spectators. On RTL, 12 million people watched, instead of three million today.”
Haug then went on to bash the current German driver situation and puts it in contrast to the past glorious times of motorsport in his country.
F1 in Germany after Sebastian Vettel’s retirement
Germany now has only one driver on the grid, Nico Hulkenberg, and one on the sidelines, Mick Schumacher. And with no German constructor and no GP in the country, it is fair to assume a further decline in popularity is imminent.
While Haug criticized the driver situation, he also targeted the manufacturers for staying away from the sport despite their country having a reputation for automobiles. He said, “A zealous green auto objector could not have developed a less ambitious and less successful German Formula 1 strategy.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Trending
Liam Lawson’s Surprise Contract Clause Threatens Daniel Ricciardo’s RB Seat
April 24, 2024 11:15 AM EDT
Daniel Ricciardo To Be Replaced by Liam Lawson After Miami, F1 Pundit Dishes Out Harsh Verdict After Australian’s “Amateur Mistake”
April 17, 2024 11:14 AM EDT
What Is Azzurro La Plata and Azzurro Dino? Significance of Ferrari’s Historic Change to a Blue Livery for Miami GP
April 24, 2024 04:52 PM EDT
“[Charles] Leclerc Doesn’t Care About Ferrari”: F1 Insider’s Brutal Blow to Fred Vasseur & Co. Has Racing Community Lashing Out
April 24, 2024 05:00 PM EDT
F1 Rumor: Christian Horner and Wife Geri to Publicly Reveal All Details on Leaked Chat Scandal
April 22, 2024 04:10 PM EDT
Get instantly notified of the hottest F1 stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.
Follow Us
He went on to clarify that this criticism does not extend to the Mercedes works team, which he believes is operating right out of England, with two great English drivers.
WATCH THIS STORY: Sebastian Vettel Championship Seasons
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
What remains to be seen is how the sport sustains its current fan base in the country. Will it decline further or grow with the addition of Audi and the return of racing in the country? Time will only tell.
Edited by:
Ranvijay Singh