F1 Return to South Africa Still a Long Shot Despite Minister’s High Hopes
An aerial view of the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit, a motor racing circuit in Midrand, Johannesburg, South Africa's premier motor racing facility.
Image: AFP
While Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie had lofty hopes—and was not shy about saying he would be failing in his role if he did not bring Formula One back to South Africa—the reality is that the premier motorsport event will not be roaring into the country anytime soon.
McKenzie set pulses racing when he spoke about F1 making a return to South Africa after an absence of more than 30 years.
His remarks, particularly in July last year, delivered during the presentation of his department’s budget speech to Parliament, were gleefully lapped up, especially by the big following the sport enjoys in the country.
Sports, Arts and Culture Minister, Gayton McKenzie.
Image: BACKPAGEPIX
At the time, he revealed that the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit had been granted permission to modify its layout to meet the sport’s stringent standards.
However, when asked recently about the likelihood of South Africa hosting an F1 race, McKenzie provided a more measured response.
Speaking to eNCA, he said: “Next year, definitely not. We have underestimated what is required to host an F1 event. But F1 has held our hand. Now we’ve got the experts and are putting together a bid they can’t refuse.”
According to motoring website Double Apex editor Sudhir Matai, McKenzie’s efforts have yet to translate into tangible progress.
“The minister has previously stated that he would have failed in his role if he cannot secure an F1 race in South Africa. This has made him somewhat of a hero among fans of the sport,” Matai wrote.
“However, his words have not brought us any closer to a race on African soil, despite many optimistic soundbites. This is despite attending numerous races and meeting with F1 executives on multiple occasions—no doubt at the taxpayer’s expense.”
Each venue that hosts a Formula One race is tied to a multi-year contract. At present, the only race contract set to expire in 2026 is Barcelona, although the Spanish venue still has the option to renegotiate with the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA).
Portugal has already been added to the calendar for the 2027 and 2028 seasons, while the Belgian Grand Prix is expected to become a rotational event from 2027.
This means that even though Kyalami is on track to become Africa’s only FIA Grade 1 circuit—capable of hosting Formula One—securing a slot on an already congested global calendar may remain the biggest obstacle.
DAILY NEWS