F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has stated that a deal to bring the sport back to South Africa is close to being finalised.
With the triumph of the recent Miami Grand Prix and a race in Las Vegas next year, F1 has set its eyes on ending a 29-year absence from the country.
For current F1 owners Liberty Media, Africa remains undiscovered terrain, but with a race due to be held at Kyalami, a circuit north of Johannesburg that hosted the sport from 1967 to 1985, and again in 1992 and 1993, the continent is ready to be explored.
“We have two options for a new race, and the most likely to hopefully happen soon is South Africa,” said Domenicali, speaking to The New York Times.
“It’s part of our agenda, and there is a commitment to see if this could be on the calendar as soon as possible.”
Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei added: “Johannesburg is definitely on our list. You’d love to have one in Cape Town, but I’m not sure that’s doable, so Johannesburg is the more likely.”
McLaren CEO Zak Brown believes Africa is a “wonderful market,” thus a return to the venue would be very popular with the teams.
Brown noted that F1 may potentially tap into unexplored markets.
“I think Asia, it is unfortunate with Covid that we are missing China again,” he said. “It is great we are going back to Singapore [this season], Japan is an awesome event. You saw the interest in Australia having missed that for a couple of years.
“We are in a great place with America but Africa would be great and I’d like to see us continue to grow in Asia.”
