A South African F1 Grand Prix from 2026?

The South African government has invited potential candidates for the organization of a Formula 1 Grand Prix to come forward via the launch of an official call for tenders, which is due to conclude at the end of January .

It was the Ministry of Sports, Arts and Culture (DCAS) which published this document, which raises the possibility of setting up an event from 2026 or 2027. The country and the continent no longer hosted the F1 since 1993 and the last edition of the South African GP, ​​on the Kyalami track.

Even if, due to its history and its overall situation on the continent, South Africa has always appeared obvious in discussions on the subject, in recent months the candidacy of Rwanda – which hosted the FIA ​​2024 gala and whose project was formalized in December – gained credibility.

In the document published by the DCAS, where a contract of around ten years is envisaged, it is indicated: “The chosen promoter must possess the expertise and government support necessary to orchestrate an exceptional world-class sporting and entertainment event. This promoter must demonstrate experience in organizing major events, in developing sustainable business models for such events and in exploiting commercial opportunities in the areas of ticketing, sponsorship and hospitality In addition, it must present a holistic vision of the Grand Prix that does not just meet the rigorous requirements of. Formula 1, but who exceeds them.”

Even if the development of an existing site, such as Kyalami, is seen as an option, the government has invited developers to also propose new circuits, whether urban or traditional, within the limit of 4.5 to 5, 5km. All projects must have a straight line (or flat section) of at least one kilometer and designers must “incorporate natural changes in elevation (rather than seeking to flatten a proposed site)”.

At the same time, it is emphasized that this circuit must be able to accommodate up to 125,000 spectators per day and “should be 30 minutes or less from a major city or recognized 'attractive destination', via multiple transportation options”. The offers will be judged by a panel comprising 12 members from motorsport, media and legal circles.

The return of Africa to the Formula 1 calendar has been an issue in recent years, as the discipline has largely gained popularity around the world and tends to move more and more away from traditional European dates.