Wolfgang Seidel

Wolfgang Seidel (4 July 1926 - 1 March 1987) was a German racing driver who made a single Formula One World Championship appearance. Born in Germany, Seidel competed in the 1953 German Grand Prix at the Nürburgring, driving a Veritas-Meteor. He qualified 32nd on the grid and retired from the race with clutch failure after completing just 2 laps. This represented his only World Championship start, though he competed in German domestic racing during the early to mid-1950s.

Seidel drove for the Veritas team, which was a small German constructor that briefly competed in Formula One and Formula Two during the early 1950s. The Veritas cars were generally uncompetitive against the dominant Italian manufacturers of the era, particularly Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, and Maserati. Seidel was part of the post-war generation of German drivers who attempted to rebuild German motorsport following World War II, competing at a time when German manufacturers were largely absent from international racing due to the country's post-war circumstances. The 1953 German Grand Prix at the Nürburgring drew a large field of entries including many local drivers in various machinery, providing opportunities for German privateers to participate in World Championship events on home soil.

Beyond his single Formula One appearance, Seidel raced in various German national events and hillclimbs during the 1950s, competing in sports cars and single-seaters at circuits and venues across Germany. Like many drivers of his era, he combined racing with other professional activities to support his motorsport endeavors. After his racing career ended, Seidel maintained connections to German motorsport but largely remained out of the public eye. He passed away in March 1987 at the age of 60, remembered as one of many privateer drivers who contributed to Formula One's early years and helped maintain German motorsport during the challenging post-war reconstruction period.