Kai Ebel ended early – today was the last Formula 1 race after 26 years
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This is what the Sunday of many Germans looked like for many years: Kai Ebel, the RTL-Mikro and Michael Schumacher
Source: pa / HOCH ZWEI
His brightly colored shirts flickered into German living rooms every racing Sunday. But now for the last time after 26 years. Earlier than planned, reporter Kai Ebel gives his Formula 1 farewell to RTL.
Et is the departure of a TV celebrity in Formula 1. Kai Ebel has his last appearance for RTL in the paddock of the premier class at the Grand Prix of Portugal (2.10 p.m. live RTL / Sky). There will be five races of the season after that, but then “Mister Boxengasse” will no longer be on site for the Cologne broadcaster.
The corona crisis is the reason. Because all regions in which Formula 1 drives up to the finals in Abu Dhabi (December 13th) are in risk areas of the Robert Koch Institute, RTL does not have a team on site and broadcasts from the studio in Cologne for security reasons. The on-site reporter will then no longer exist. The races will take place in Imola / Italy, Istanbul / Turkey, Sakhir / Bahrain and Yas Marina / Abu Dhabi.
From 2021, RTL will exit Formula 1, and pay-TV rival Sky will hold the German Formula 1 rights exclusively.
After 26 years
After 26 years, it’s over for Kai Ebel in Formula 1. The 56-year-old had his first assignment as a live reporter with his own camera in the drama of Imola in 1994, when he had to tell TV viewers about the death of Ayrton Senna. After that, he was cult in Formula 1 for decades, his weird outfits are legendary, his direct and cheeky interviews entertained the fans.
Corona is now ending Ebel’s Formula 1 time almost two months earlier than expected. In addition to saying goodbye to Ebel, the German voice of Formula 1, Heiko Waßer (63), is also celebrating an anniversary today.
The Dortmund-based driver is currently completing his 500th race as a live commentator for Formula 1. Due to the Corona crisis, Waßer has to comment from the studio and not, as has been the case for over 25 years, live from the track.
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