Formula 1: Africa’s booming fanbase who want a grand prix

Despite the vast following F1 commands in Africa, the continent has not hosted an official race in more than three decades.

African fans and the sport’s most successful, and only black, driver, Lewis Hamilton, have been rallying for its return to the continent, arguing that it is unfair for Africa to be left out while the US alone hosts three races a year.

Although there have been reports about F1 mulling a return to Morocco or potentially racing in Rwanda or Zanzibar, the Kyalami circuit near Johannesburg in South Africa, is seen as the obvious venue choice.

Kyalami, which hosted multiple F1 races between 1967 and 1993, is considered one of the sport’s most historic circuits.

The long-awaited Formula 1 return to South Africa appeared possible in 2022, when the management of Kyalami met all the relevant groups.

The process seemed on track until negotiations collapsed due to South Africa’s ties with Russia.

Toby Venter, head of the OT Venter group of companies, which owns the Kyalami circuit, says that the mooted attendance of Russian President Vladimir Putin at a summit in South Africa plus the docking of a Russian ship at a naval base scuppered the plans.

“Thereafter the Americans got cold feet,” he tells the BBC.

He says the circuit had already “made extensive plans and preparations” to upgrade the circuit so “it was very sad that unfortunately, politics interfered”.

He argues that F1 is “not a true world championship without Africa”.

“I think if F1 came to Africa it would be packed because you have clubs in Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, everywhere… you would have the whole of Africa moving to that country to support F1.”