South African officials are set to meet with Formula One Management in the UK on July 30, pushing hard for the return of a Grand Prix to the continent after a three-decade absence.
Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie confirmed the talks, highlighting Kyalami circuit’s recent upgrades as a key factor. The venue, owned by Toby Venter, has secured FIA approval for track modifications to meet modern F1 standards.
This comes amid growing interest in expanding the calendar, with Africa notably missing since the 1993 race at Kyalami. McKenzie, who took office recently, has made bringing F1 back a priority, stating on social media that he’s already in touch with F1 bosses.
Sources indicate the discussion will focus on logistics, funding, and potential slots in the 2026 or 2027 schedule. While no firm commitments exist yet, the meeting signals serious intent from both sides.
F1’s current lineup includes stars like Max Verstappen at Red Bull and Lewis Hamilton, now with Ferrari, but adding a South African round could shake up the global mix, drawing new fans and boosting the sport’s diversity.
Sources (click to expand):
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2025-04-10/formula-one-will-review-bids-to-bring-grand-prix-back-to-africa,
https://www.formula1.com/en/racing/2025,
https://supersport.com/motorsport/formula1/news/33e75509-fa3b-4a52-8817-00ee572e0cb9/f1-2025-all-you-need-to-know,
https://www.planetf1.com/features/south-africa-f1-grand-prix-separating-press-releases-from-disappointing-facts,
https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/sa-hold-critical-meeting-formula-1-two-weeks,
https://fia.com/news/formula-1-commission-meeting-22072025-media-statement,
https://autoracing1.com/pl/455391/fia-news-formula-1-commission-meeting-highlights,
https://allafrica.com/stories/202507160045.html,
https://www.gauteng.net/whats-on-g/sa-f1-grand-prix-gayton-mckenzie/,
https://www.autoracing1.com/pl/439952/f1-news-cape-town-wants-to-host-south-african-gp/
