Formula 1's German absence has lasted since 2019, and the first serious move to end it came from the circuit rather than the sport.
"It was Hockenheim that connected with us, and they had the first discussion," F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali told The Race. "As you know, they are developing the motorsport park there with a different objective."
That objective is a EUR250 million redevelopment led by the emodrom group, which holds 74.99% of the circuit's shares and is expanding its Porsche Experience Centre while adding a hotel and a Motorworld visitor centre. A grand prix is a separate line item entirely, and Domenicali said so plainly: "If they want to discuss a possible F1 event, of course the investment needs to be different - because our platform needs to have a different kind of investment. But we have discussed that."
Talking to Auto Motor und Sport, he described the ambition as structural rather than opportunistic. "We're not just thinking about the short term, but about a longer-term collaboration."
Hockenheimring managing director Jorn Teske is markedly more guarded. "We are in regular contact with Formula 1," he told the same outlet. "We want to get a comprehensive picture of the framework and what the opportunities and risks are. There is interest, but at this time we have no results to report."
To German broadcaster RTL, Teske made clear that willingness has never been the issue. "That both sides want this has been communicated often enough," he said. "As always, we would be interested in an economically viable solution."
The economics are where every previous German revival has died. Toto Wolff, speaking to Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung last year, said the underlying problem is that no German entity will shoulder the risk and that promoters remain wedded to old structures - while Silverstone shows a grand prix can be run commercially without state money.
What has shifted is F1's view of the continent. "We are watching, of course, the growth of the United States," Domenicali said. "We are watching the growth of Europe, because it's becoming an important market again, because the growth, the numbers, are there."
The competition is broad. Rwanda and South Africa are pushing for an African round - "negotiations are progressing very well in Africa", per Domenicali - while Thailand and South Korea are interested, Argentina is buoyed by Franco Colapinto's popularity, and China and Japan have both requested second races. The last of those is a no for now: "For the moment, we want to stay with one race in China because we need to consolidate the market stronger, before thinking to have another option there."
Hockenheim's approach also lands at a useful moment. Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Abu Dhabi all sit on the provisional 2027 calendar with question marks attached while conflict in the Middle East continues, and F1 has committed to running 24 races regardless. LBC listed Hockenheim and the Nurburgring among the Grade 1 substitutes available, alongside Imola, Mugello, Paul Ricard, Sepang and Kyalami.
Domenicali will not, however, repeat this year's workaround, in which Malaysia hosts the postponed Bahrain Grand Prix in October under Bahrain's name.
"I don't think that this could be a long-term approach because we need to be credible and consistent," he said. "But I really hope that the situation of the world would allow us to go back to a normal situation with the right country in which we would like to hold the grand prix."
Max Verstappen won the last German Grand Prix. Hockenheim now has to prove a second one adds up.
