Munich, Germany: Former Formula 1 driver, Ralf Schumacher, said “German motorsport has abolished itself”, German Press Agency (dpa) reported.
“It started with nature conservation, when we were no longer allowed to obtain permits for karting tracks or continue operating them,” Schumacher, now a TV pundit, said during a news conference on Thursday.
He explained it was like abolishing football fields in Germany and still expecting to have a club like record Bundesliga champions, Bayern Munich.
“We won’t have any Formula 1 drivers in the foreseeable future, unless they have enough money and manage to drive karts in Italy like most people who really have money,” explained the brother of seven-time world champion, Michael Schumacher.
Ralf estimated that cost to rise from Formula 3 to F1 is around €15 million (USD17.7 million or RM68.9 million).
“Ideally, you win Formula 3 and then Formula 2 in no time at all, just to get the teams to notice you,” he said.
Germany has not hosted an F1 race since 2020, when the Nürburgring circuit was added to the reviewed calendar during the coronavirus pandemic.
Organisers cite the high costs of hosting a grand prix as an issue for Germany’s return to the big stage.
Currently, Nico Hülkenberg is the only German driver on the F1 grid. – BERNAMA-dpa
