German Grand Prix

The historic German Grand Prix, held at Nürburgring, Hockenheimring, and AVUS since 1926.

The German Grand Prix was a motor race that took place most years since 1926, with 75 races having been held. The race has been held at only three venues throughout its history: the Nürburgring in Rhineland-Palatinate, Hockenheimring in Baden-Württemberg and occasionally AVUS in Berlin. The race continued to be known as the German Grand Prix, even through the era when the race was held in West Germany. Because West Germany was prevented from taking part in international events in the immediate post-war period, the German Grand Prix only became part of the Formula One World Championship in 1951. It was designated the European Grand Prix four times between 1954 and 1974, when this title was an honorary designation given each year to one Grand Prix race in Europe. It has been organised by the Automobilclub von Deutschland (AvD) since 1926.

Quick Facts

First ferrari win: 1952 (Alberto Ascari)
Primary venues: Nürburgring, Hockenheimring
Notable rivalry: Ferrari vs. Mercedes-Benz

Lore & Background

The first national event in German Grand Prix motor racing was held at the AVUS circuit in southwestern Berlin in 1926 as a sports car race. The Grand Prix moved to the Nürburgring in 1927. The 1935 event was considered one of the greatest motorsports victories of all time, with Italian legend Tazio Nuvolari driving an outdated Alfa Romeo to victory against state-of-the-art Mercedes and Auto Unions. The German Grand Prix was held at Hockenheimring every year between 1977 and 2006 (except 1985).

Hockenheimring and the Nürburgring alternated hosting the German Grand Prix between 2008 and 2014, at which point Nürburgring pulled out of hosting the event in 2015, leaving Hockenheim the sole host of the race but only in alternating years until 2018. A further one-year deal placed the German Grand Prix on the 2019 calendar. After 2019, a race under the name 'German Grand Prix' has not been run again, although Germany hosted the 2020 Eifel Grand Prix at the Nürburgring.