Uncategorized

Lewis Hamilton and F1 are desperate for Africa return – but these obstacles must be overcome

Formula One wants to return. Lewis Hamilton insists F1 cannot continue to ignore it. But after 31 years away, the sport still can’t thrash out a route back into the only viable continent (sorry Antarctica) it fails to race in: Africa.

It was 1993 the last time the “Mother Continent” hosted an F1 grand prix. That was at Kyalami, 20 miles north of Johannesburg, as Williams driver Alain Prost won the 27th version of the South African Grand Prix.

Rather obviously, it is difficult to claim the full veracity of the competition “Formula 1 World Championship” while a record 24-race calendar does not actually include the entire world and its continents.

But F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has made no secret of his desire to add an African race to the schedule, amid an opening set of talks with Rwandan officials last month.

However, is Rwanda the only option? South Africa has come close in recent years, too. And what are the major obstacles? The Independent takes a look at all the potential locations F1 could venture to in Africa.

For a long time, it seemed South Africa would be back on the calendar as soon as this year.

Negotiations had been ongoing for some time when Domenicali visited the Kyalami Circuit in 2022. The track, which has FIA Grade 2 status, would need to improve to Grade 1 level to host F1, meaning an upgrade of spectator facilities, run-off areas and an official sign-off from the FIA.

There was even speculation that South Africa would replace the famous Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium as soon as 2024. But then, a few events threw the return of Kyalami off-piste.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 is the primary reason or, rather, the South African government’s refusal to condemn Vladimir Putin’s actions. On the contrary, South Africa – which is part of the Brics group of nations which includes Brazil, Russia, India and China – was set to welcome Putin to the country for a summit last year, before the Russian president eventually joined via video link.

F1, meanwhile, terminated its contract with the Russian Grand Prix after the invasion. These two opposing stances do not look like changing.

Former F1 world champion Jody Scheckter, however, insists the reunion was thwarted by “greed” from circuit officials.

“I was an inside part of it, my nephew worked on it for six years,” Scheckter told Total Motorsport in 2023.

“It was that close… F1 came over to sign. He had got government backing, some of the wealthiest people in South Africa behind it. Everything was in place and the guy from Kyalami got greedy.

“Just as soon as F1 left, he changed the whole thing completely. The government realised there was a fight and withdrew, and that was the end.”

Yet the latest update is encouraging. South Africa’s minister of sport, art and culture, Gayton McKenzie, held initial talks with Domenicali at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix last month and is determined to bring F1 back to South Africa.

He is quoted as saying afterwards:  “I can tell you this, F1 is definitely coming. F1 told us they’re keen to come. They told us what they need to come. And we are going to give them what they need to come.

“What I’ve done, I’ve told everybody to stand back. Let me handle it. Because twice, we’ve been hearing F1 is coming, they went to the order twice, they didn’t get merit. So I’m here now.

“There’s still a big fight at the moment, is it Cape Town or is it Joburg [Johannesburg]? This decision has not been taken.”

Cape Town held a street race in Formula E in 2023, but an F1 race is perhaps more likely at the Killarney Raceway in Table View. However, like Kyalami, it would need an upgrade from its current FIA Grade 2 level.

Xural.com

Related Articles

Bir cavab yazın

Sizin e-poçt ünvanınız dərc edilməyəcəkdir. Gərəkli sahələr * ilə işarələnmişdir

Back to top button