With co-owner and Formula 1 legend Sebastian Vettel in their corner, underdogs Germany battle back from penalty-hit struggles to deliver a breakthrough on home waters in Sassnitz.
After a disastrous start to their 2025 Season - seemingly-defined by an unprecedented 12-point penalty in Sydney - the Germany SailGP Team presented by Deutsche Bank have been fighting to prove themselves. The latest episode of SailGP’s behind-the-scenes docuseries, Racing on the Edge, shines a spotlight on the team’s struggle, their unique spirit and breakthrough moment on home waters.
Produced in partnership with Rolex, the episode places Germany’s Driver Erik Kosegarten-Heil front and center. A laid-back character who is as comfortable on a farm as he is racing an F50, the world-class athlete is also training to become a doctor while building his life beyond the water.
The episode captures the Germans’ painful early races, internal crisis meetings, and their innovative training at Kiel where the coaches introduced a secret “mini SailGP” project to sharpen the team’s tactics. “We need to find smart ways of being better than the others,” Kosegarten-Heil reflects. “Its not that we aren’t progressing - it’s just that everyone is progressing.”
Co-owner of the German team and four-time Formula 1 World Champion, Sebastien Vettel features prominently, offering insight into what drew him to the team. “Maybe because there are a lot of values we share,” Vettel says of his connection with Heil. “You realize that there are other things around you and not just getting sucked into the sports bubble or sports world and not tying your whole identity to one thing only.”
The payoff comes at the Sassnitz Sail Grand Prix - Germany’s first-ever home event. In front of packed grandstands Germany stunned the fleet in their opening race on day one, going head-to-head with Emirates Great Britain before surging ahead to cross the line first.
Day two brought even more drama. Battling through rapidly-changing conditions, Germany kept themselves in the fight for a place in their first-ever final. In the decisive race, an audacious maneuver had them on the brink of qualification, only for France to catch a late gust and snatch the final spot. Despite the heartbreak, the Germans had fans believing in what could be possible.
“In sport you’re trying to achieve a certain goal. You’re trying to win or you have certain objectives and it can be very powerful; it gives you a lot of emotions. But also if you don’t achieve it, you realize that with a little bit of distance, you trying in a group of people as a team in that environment is actually the real experience,” Vettel concludes. “Sometimes being so driven for the end result - you forget to enjoy the journey.”
Since launching in 2021, Racing on the Edge has now generated more than 10 million total viewers across more than 40 episodes. Racing on the Edge offers fans unprecedented access to the drama and emotion that define SailGP – the fastest and most competitive racing on the water.
All eyes now turn to the ninth stop of the 2025 Rolex SailGP Championship in Saint-Tropez for the ROCKWOOL France Sail Grand Prix, where national teams will go head to head across two action-packed days of racing on September 12-13. Visit sailgp.com/general/how-to-watch to catch the action and sign up to SailGP+ to get unrivaled access to behind-the-scenes content, members-only offers, exclusive competitions and more.
ABOUT THE GERMANY SAILGP TEAM BY DEUTSCHE BANK
The Germany SailGP Team presented by Deutsche Bank joined the league with determination in Season 4, adapting quickly and embracing the steep learning curve of high-speed racing. Led by two-time Olympic medalist Erik Kosegarten-Heil, the team is packed with high-profile talent. Owners Thomas Riedel and four-time Formula 1 Champion Sebastian Vettel have supported the team since day one, with Deutsche Bank joining as a partner in Season 4, and stepping up as co-title partner in the 2025 Season.