MIAMI (Reuters) – Germany’s four-times world champion Sebastian Vettel says he doesn’t count on to race in his homeland again earlier than he retires from the game.
The German Grand Prix has not been held since 2019 and the 34-year-old Aston Martin driver believes the development within the sport in the direction of new markets, paying larger charges, makes a swift return unlikely.
“I don’t know if Germany will make it in time for me,” Vettel, who’s out of contract on the finish of the season together with his future unsure, advised reporters forward of observe for Sunday’s Miami Grand Prix.
“I feel ultimately in case you take a look at the locations the place we’re going, Germany just isn’t ready to pay that type of cash to have a Grand Prix, easy as that,” added Vettel, who gained the 2013 version on the Nuerburgring.
“I’m not the developer of this sport and I’m not setting the marketing strategy and the targets however clearly you possibly can see the locations we’re going and the brand new venues we’re going,” he added, saying the selections have been “cash pushed”.
“It is a disgrace shedding out on Germany, it could be a disgrace shedding out on Spa, it could be a disgrace shedding out on Spain, which there was a lot of speak about…. if these international locations aren’t able to pay the excessive entry charges anymore then they are going to fall off that record and that might be a disgrace,” he added.
“Some races you assume would have a assure, Silverstone, Monza, however I don’t know, however it could be nice if Germany was again on the calendar however I doubt it.”
Vettel additionally has some conventional leanings relating to F1’s decisions within the United States.
The sport has a purpose-built circuit in Austin, Texas, however Miami and subsequent 12 months’s newcomer Las Vegas are non permanent tracks in city centres.
“I feel the U.S. has incredible race circuits with unimaginable historical past,” mentioned Vettel.
“Certainly the cash that was spent to construct this (Miami) may simply have introduced the usual up in nice locations like Road America,” mentioned the German, referring to the monitor in Wisconsin.
“From a driving standpoint I feel that might be a lot extra thrilling, from the fan standpoint that’s tough for me to guage as a result of the final time I sat within the grandstand to look at a race was in 2001, a very long time in the past, and each fan is completely different.
“But from a racing and driving thrill I’d like to go to correct tracks.”
(Reporting by Simon Evans, modifying by Pritha Sarkar)
