German world champions fail to connect with the public - Niki Lauda

  • Published on 01 Dec 2016 11:35
  • comments 2
  • By: Dominik Wilde

Niki Lauda has said that the German people do not connect with the country's world champions.

Two of the last three champions, Nico Rosberg and Sebastian Vettel have heralded from Germany, yet the German Grand Prix faces another year off the calendar in 2017 due in part to declining popularity.

It is a stark contrast to the late 1990s and 2000s when the country hosted two races. Hockenheim played host to the German Grand Prix, while the Nurburgring hosted both the Luxembourg and European Grands Prix in the years of Michael Schumacher's dominance.

"All the great German world champions had a somewhat strange relationship with the population," he told the newsmagazine Stern.

"They are not embraced like footballers are, because somehow this human proximity, this warmth, is missing."

Lauda thinks a big reason behind this is Vettel's lack of openness in the media. The four-time world champion famously shuns media work, and is one of only two drivers (alongside Ferrari team mate Kimi Riakkonen) to not be active on any form of social media.

"What's missing is the openness," Lauda said. "But I understand and I'd do the same in his place," said Lauda.

"For me, Nico stands somewhere in between. Finding a relationship with the people is not easy."

Referring to the axing of the German Grand Prix, Rosberg himself told Bild: "I find it really sad.

"The Formula One world championship without a German Grand Prix is somehow not a real world championship."

Wolfgang

Posts: 313

this is for Nico Rosberg just rubbish.

He opened much more to public in recent years with regular Twitter Vids after races etc..

  • 1
  • Dec 1 2016 - 14:45

Replies (2)

Login to reply
  • Wolfgang

    Posts: 313

    this is for Nico Rosberg just rubbish.

    He opened much more to public in recent years with regular Twitter Vids after races etc..

    • + 1
    • Dec 1 2016 - 14:45
  • f1dave

    Posts: 782

    Niki Lauda fails to connect with the public is more like it.

    • + 0
    • Dec 1 2016 - 17:52

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team -
  • Points -
  • Podiums -
  • Grand Prix -
  • Country DE
  • Date of b. Jun 27 1985 (38)
  • Place of b. Wiesbaden, DE
  • Weight 71 kg
  • Length 1.78 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar