Absent from the African continent since 1993, Formula 1 is actively working on its return. Stefano Domenicali assures that negotiations are progressing “very well”, while several countries have expressed their interest.
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Africa could finally regain a place on the Formula 1 calendar.
The premier motorsport discipline has not held a Grand Prix there since the 1993 South African Grand Prix at Kyalami. More than three decades later, it remains absent from the only inhabited continent currently without any championship round.
A return to Kyalami has long been the most frequently mentioned option. However, the circuit located north of Johannesburg has somewhat lost momentum in recent years, while other projects have emerged.
Morocco and Rwanda have notably been cited among the candidates likely to host F1. Without revealing the identity of the currently most advanced project, Stefano Domenicali confirms that discussions are progressing.
Negotiations progressing “very well”
The president and CEO of Formula 1 has been particularly encouraging regarding the possibility of seeing the single-seaters back on the African continent soon.
“What I can say is that negotiations are progressing very well in Africa,” says Stefano Domenicali.
A statement that comes as Lewis Hamilton has been advocating for several years for the organization of an African Grand Prix.
The seven-time world champion has even expressed his desire to continue racing in Formula 1 until the championship returns to Africa.
For now, Domenicali has not announced any country, circuit, or date regarding a possible addition to the calendar.
Kyalami, Rwanda or Morocco?
Kyalami naturally appears as a symbolic destination. The South African circuit has hosted Formula 1 several times and remains the venue of the last Grand Prix held on the continent.
But F1 now has several alternatives.
Rwanda has notably expressed interest in hosting a race, while Morocco has also been linked to a potential Grand Prix project.
This competition comes in a context particularly favorable to F1. The championship receives more applications than it has calendar slots, forcing its leaders to make choices.
Turkey and Portugal returning in 2027
Domenicali also confirmed the expansion of the calendar in other regions of the world.
“Next year, we are returning to Portugal and Turkey, and we have other discussions with countries in South America. We also have discussions in the Far East.”
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The Turkish Grand Prix will thus return in 2027 as part of a five-year agreement.
Portugal will also return to F1 at Portimão with a two-season contract. The Algarve circuit hosted the championship in 2020 and 2021 in the particular context of the Covid-19 pandemic.
These returns illustrate the strong demand that F1 must now meet to build its calendar.
No second Grand Prix in China or Japan for now
Interest is also particularly strong in Asia.
Domenicali reveals that Formula 1 has received requests regarding the organization of a second race both in China and in Japan.
But the championship does not want to immediately multiply events in these markets.
“One thing I can tell you is that we have more requests for a second race in China and Japan. But for now, we want to stay with a single race in China, because we need to further consolidate this market before considering other possibilities.”
The priority therefore seems to be to strengthen existing events rather than immediately creating multiple races in the same country.
Rotation, a solution to multiply destinations
Faced with the growing number of candidates, Formula 1 is also starting to use the principle of rotation more.
Spa-Francorchamps and Barcelona have notably agreed not to systematically host a round every season.
The Belgian Grand Prix is thus scheduled for 2027, 2029 and 2031, while Barcelona will host F1 in 2028, 2030 and 2032.
This system could allow the discipline to integrate new destinations without indefinitely increasing the number of races.
After more than 30 years of absence, Africa now appears as one of the main territories that F1 wishes to reconquer. And while Stefano Domenicali remains cautious about the details, his optimism regarding the progress of negotiations suggests that a return of the championship to the continent has never been more concrete.
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