Originally Posted by dj_bytedisaster
It's a matter of dynamics. Before the 80s there had only been Graf Berghe von Trips and Jochen Maas, who had shown that German drivers could do anything of notice in F1. There were a couple drivers in the 80s (Bellof, Schneider, Winkelhock), but they were mainly in minnow teams and Belloff died too early.
Even in the early nineties Bernie said what F1 needed was a black driver, a lady driver and a German champion. As always in life, be careful what you wish for, you might just get it.
In the late 80s, Mercedes started a young drivers program. The result of that were Schumacher, Frentzen and Wendlinger, Fässler, Franchitti and Heidfeld. Mercedes even paid most of the money for Schumacher's seat at Jordan.
Well, we all know how it went. Schumacher went on to 7 titles and he set off an avalanche. Kids were swamping the karting clubs. Notable members of that generation are Hülkenberg, Glock, Sutil, Winkelhock, Lauda, Rosberg and Vettel. We had times in the last decade where we had five Germans on the grid, while before the Germans were as rare as Jamaicans in F1. What Britain needs is a clear star driver, one who gets multiple titles and the kiddies will return to karting by the ship load. Look at the Spaniards - we see more of them lately, don't we.
Give it two more Lewis titles and the Brits will be back in numbers with young talent.