F1’s return to Africa may not be at Kyalami - Domenicali
"Africa will come back and hopefully be on our calendar very soon"
Africa’s return to the Formula 1 calendar is not dead in the water, according to F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali.
A deal for Kyalami, having last hosted a grand prix in 1993, was considered by insiders to be almost a dead certainty for 2023.
Ultimately, the deal fell through reportedly for financial reasons.
"The reason is that the F1-appointed local promoter was unable to deliver on the financial guarantees," Anton Roux, president of Motorsport South Africa (MSA) and a member of the FIA Senate, told News24 last week.
"We now need to replace the local promoter, but I am very confident that we’ll be on the 2024 calendar."
Domenicali is also hopeful, but he is leaving the door open for another African venue other than Kyalami.
"It’s a very clear goal," he told Sky Italia on the sidelines of the Singapore GP when asked about organising a race on the African continent.
"Africa will come back and hopefully be on our calendar very soon."
New rumours suggest that Domenicali is actually aiming for an African GP next year.
"We just have to make sure that when we do something new, we do it with the right partners and have a stable foundation to stay longer," said the Italian.
"It would be wrong to go there for a year and then disappear if the conditions are not right. It’s not only about having the right financial means, but also preparing the place for the weekend we want to host there.
"The only thing I can say after the first contact with Kyalami is that there are other places in Africa that are interested in Formula 1 as well," Domenicali insisted.
Calendrier - circuits F1
F1 unlikely to feature two Italian races in 2026 - CEO
Imola must ’resist’ demise of European F1 races
Good news at Zandvoort amid F1 contract talks
Turkey expects to reach new F1 race deal ’quickly’
More on Calendrier - circuits F1
F1 - FOM - Liberty Media
F1 not ready to regulate use of AI - Domenicali
FIA, Liberty want to end power struggle ’clashes’
F1 won’t be ’bored’ with off-track news at Imola - CEO
F1 could scrap hybrid engines from 2030 - Domenicali
US congress should not influence F1’s Andretti decision
More on F1 - FOM - Liberty Media