Young drivers chase Schumachers' legacy

LONDON, England (CNN) -- A new era in Formula One begins this weekend.

The 2008 German Grand Prix marks the first running in almost two decades without a Schumacher racing.

It was 1991 when a grid at Hockenheim last did not feature either Michael or Ralf Schumacher.

A golden period for German motor sport was to follow.

After the death of Ayrton Senna in 1994, Michael dominated F1 and his influence stretched to even shaping the calendar.

From 1995 to 2006, Germany hosted two grands prix a season -- the second at the Nurburgring -- as F1 capitalized on the Schumi effect. Ralf was less successful than his older brother but he won six races for Williams, powered by engines from German car giant BMW.

Throw in Mercedes' full-time return to F1 in 1994 and their alliance with McLaren, which began in 1995, plus the occasional brilliance of Heinz-Harald Frentzen, and it all added up to F1's overtly Teutonic feel.

Fast forward to 2008 and things are a little different. Michael retired in 2006 after seven world titles, while Ralf's contract with Germany-based Toyota was not renewed at the end of last season.

Hockenheim, which culled its iconic tree-lined straights ahead of the 2002 race, has struggled financially. Calls from the circuit's owners for government assistance have fallen on deaf ears.

There was no German Grand Prix in 2007 and from this season Hockenheim will alternate with the Nurburgring in hosting the event until 2010. Beyond that, the race's future is unclear.

The German drivers in F1 today are not yet title challengers. Nick Heidfeld, Timo Glock, Nico Rosberg, Adrian Sutil and Sebastian Vettel are vying for supremacy in the post-Schumacher age.

Toro Rosso charger Vettel is the German media's new blue-eyed boy -- with comparisons already being made with Michael.

"He has everything a future winner in F1 needs," Michael said. "The boy will be a big name."

The retiring David Coulthard has had his wish granted with the announcement that Vettel will occupy the second Red Bull seat alongside Mark Webber in 2009.

Vettel, 21, became the youngest F1 driver ever when he made his debut for BMW Sauber at the 2007 US Grand Prix.

He is also the youngest driver to score a point and to lead a race, but admits he is far from the finished article.

"Over the past couple of years, Red Bull Racing has proved it has great potential, so this is a good move for me," he said.

"I am looking forward to having a great season next year, even if I still have a lot to learn about F1."

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