In an, ahem, bid to continue making Formula 1’s return to South Africa a reality, South Africa’s Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Mr Gayton McKenzie, has announced a committee that will be responsible for preparing South Africa’s bid to host the peak of motorsport on local shores.
Comprising a diverse team of experts, South Africa’s Bid Steering Committee (BSC) will be responsible for for all aspects of the preparation — which will include a phase of selecting the city and racetrack to host Formula 1 in South Africa — of the bid, which will be put forward to the Formula 1 Group and the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile, or International Automobile Federation) for consideration.
There has never been an F1 race in South Africa since the dawn of democracy, and that must change — South African Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Mr Gayton McKenzie
Though the racetrack has yet to be announced, a fair bet would be that it will be Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit in Johannesburg, which hosted its last Formula 1 Grand Prix in 1961. As a reminder, earlier in 2024, the teams of Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit and Apex Circuit Design met with Minister McKenzie to outline their plans for this iconic racetrack to gain FIA Grade 1 accreditation. “Whist negotiations with various role players, including Formula 1 owners Liberty Media, continue tirelessly behind the scenes, South Africans can rest assured that there will be a suitable home for the return of Formula 1.”
Addressing stakeholders, guests and media at Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit, Minister McKenzie also paid tribute to seven-time Formula 1 World Driver’s Champion Lewis Hamilton, a long-time advocate for Formula 1’s return to South Africa.
Minister McKenzie said: “Lewis Hamilton, we want to pay tribute to you and your activism. You introduced so many of us to Formula 1 and turned us into passionate fans today. You inspire us with who you are as driver, a person and a tireless activist for what you believe in. We want to crown your career by seeing you race here.”
Formula 1 can’t be adding races in other locations and continuing to ignore the Africa — Lewis Hamilton
Minister McKenzie shares Hamilton’s view that Formula 1 can’t be adding races in other locations and continuing to ignore the African continent, saying, “Europe has 10 races, if you include Baku. Italy has two Formula 1 races. Africa, with 54 countries, does not even have one race. So, there’s no reason that we can’t all put our name forward, and support each other, to make sure that the World Championship takes place everywhere in the world, as it should.”
“The question is not whether we can afford to bring Formula 1 back to South Africa, but rather whether we can afford not to. I believe we cannot afford not to,” added Minister McKenzie, emphasising that the South African Government fully backs Formula 1’s return to South Africa.