Mexico City - Around nine months of calm remain before Formula One returns to the Hockenheimring in 2016 but officials can only dream of an atmosphere like that which graced the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez circuit for the Mexico Grand Prix last weekend.
There were 90 000 fans for the usually unspectacular practice sessions on Friday and 134 000 turned out for actual race on Sunday in Mexico City.
In contrast only 52 000 watched the last German Grand Prix at Hockenheim in 2014 and the 2015 edition, scheduled for the Nurburgring, was cancelled.
“It is a pity that in recent years, fewer and fewer people are watching, although there are German drivers fighting to win. And a German team that is fighting for the championship,” Ferrari's German driver Sebastian Vettel said.
Theoretically the sport could not be more attractive to German fans but the reality is different.
“It seems as if the people in other countries have more passion for motorsports than here,” Vettel added.
Sunday's race in Mexico was watched by more people than attended the last two grands prix in Hockenheim combined.
“There were probably more German flags here than in Germany,” Vettel said of the support he received.
REAL ENTHUSIASM
The Mexicans, welcoming back Formula One to their country from the first time since 1992, turned watching the sport into an experience. The enthusiasm recognized no names or nations, it was all about the F1-weekend.
“I have no explanation why it is not like this in Germany,” race winner Nico Rosberg of Mercedes said. He added the atmosphere was one of the best he had enjoyed in recent years and the adulation made him feel like a rock star.
But it is likely the 23-year-gap between Mexican Grands Prix is certainly a factor.
“You cannot compare the mentality in Mexico with Germany,” marketing specialist and Hockenheim advisor Katja Heim told Bild on Tuesday. “But we had similar euphoria at Formula One races during Michael Schumacher's time.”
There has been a grand prix in Germany every year since 1960 with the exception of 2015. The Nurburgring lacked the money to stage the contest and the Hockenheimring did not want to risk a further loss by stepping in at short notice.
This is in contrast to Mexico where the campaign to return F1 was financed by the city and backed by Carlos Slim, the richest man in Mexico.
GERMAN FANS “LOUSY”
In F1, if races are sold-out, as in Mexico, there is large revenue generated but if seats are empty, a loss is made - ticket sales are the only income for organizers. Maybe people are too tight, maybe prices are too high, maybe perceived value for money is different, Vettel pondered as to the differing crowds.
Less diplomatic was Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone this year in simply calling German fans “lousy.” The Mexican fans on the other hand did not simply want to be there, they wanted to be part of the event.
That home favourite Sergio Perez did not win did not bother anyone. Chants of “Nico, Nico, Nico,” greeted Rosberg as he collected his trophy on the podium.
While some people have speculated the quieter engines detract from the spectacle, that also made no difference to the adoring fans in Mexico - they simple cheered louder to make up for it.
Reuters