Formula One has been on a massive expansion these last few years. As a result, local fans thought that the series would be coming back to South Africa in the near future. However, it seems F1 may be heading to Africa, just not near the Southern tip.

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Off The Cards

Local F1 fans were wound up to a frenzy over the last few years as it seemed that the sport’s governing body and promoters were closing to signing a deal to bring the sport back to SA. The last race was held at Kyalami over 30 years ago. However, the deal did not materialise and Africa has remained absent from this ‘world’ championship. In the meantime, the rising popularity of the sport in North America has meant that the continent enjoys no fewer than five races.

Back to Africa

It turns out that F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali is in advanced talks with representatives from Rwanda to host a race. Members of the Rwanda Development Board reportedly attended the Monaco F1 Grand Prix this year to meet with the FIA. In an exclusive interview with leading motorsport title Autosport, Domenicali said “They are serious. They have presented a good plan and actually we have a meeting with them at the end of September. It will be on a permanent track.”

The former boss of Ferrari F1 continued: “We want to go to Africa, but we need to have the right investment, and the right strategic plan. We need to have the right moment, and we need to make sure that also in that country, in that region, in that continent, there is the right welcoming, because, of course, they have other priorities. We need to be always very careful in making the right choices.”

Pound Seats

F1 is in the enviable position of countries lining up to host a race. The series currently has a 24 race calendar, which Domenicali seems happy with. This means some races on the current schedule will have to make way for new host venues. “I don’t see big changes coming in the short term, but in the next couple of months we need to discuss what will be ’26, ’27 and ’28. We have different options but we are in a good place.”