Nurburgring to Return to F1?

The Nurburgring circuit authorities are in discussions with Formula 1 regarding a return to the calendar in 2019. Financial challenges and an ownership change prevented the famous circuit from hosting F1 since 2013. But with Mirco Markfort as the Chief Executive Officer, there seems to be a possibility of Nurburgring circuit returning to the F1 calendar.

Liberty Media is also keen to maintain their foothold in Europe. The French Grand Prix will make its return this year after a 10-year absence. The German Grand Prix also returns to the F1 calendar after a one-year hiatus. But Hockenheim will be playing host this time.

Markfort would love nothing more than see the F1 return to the Nurburgring. It is believed that he met with the F1 CEO Chase Carey at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to discuss the possibility and talks have since continued.

Markfort said, “We really would appreciate having the Formula 1 back at the Nurburgring in 2019. This will only be possible if we take meaningful economic surrounding conditions into consideration. We are able to confirm that there had been conversations with the owner of the Formula 1, Liberty Media.”

Mirko Markfort

The Nurburgring has hosted 40 Grand Prix. The first of took place in 1951. It was the host of the European Grand Prix from 1984 until 2007. From 2009 onwards, Nurburgring and the Hockenheim circuit began to alternately host the German Grand Prix. That was, until 2015 when the German Grand Prix was absent altogether.

Nurburgring faces stiff competition to secure a place on the calendar. F1 commercial chief Sean Bratches said in September that he had received around 40 expressions of interest from potential venues over the course of the year. If the rumors are to be believed, Liberty Media plans to secure another race in the United States. Their options boil down to Las Vegas, New York, and Miami.