On Friday South Africa’s Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture announced the release of the Request for Expression of Interest (RFEOI) for parties interested in participating in the country’s bid to host a Formula 1 race, starting in 2026 or 2027 “and beyond.”
Could F1 be returning to South Africa?
South Africa’s dreams of hosting an F1 race take a crucial next step
Mark Schofield is a former college quarterback and attorney covering the NFL and F1.
This is a critical next step in the country’s aim to join the F1 grid.
In the announcement Gayton McKenzie, the nation’s Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, highlighted the significance of this milestone.
“This marks an exciting step in our journey to bring Formula 1 to South Africa,” said Minister McKenzie. “The release of the RFEOI demonstrates our commitment to an open, inclusive and competitive process, showcasing South Africa’s ability to host a world-class motorsport event and our broader ambitions for economic growth and global recognition.”
In the RFEOI, which you can review here, the nation’s F1 history is noted at the outset. South Africa hosted its first Grand Prix in 1934 and joined the F1 schedule regularly in 1962. The South African Grand Prix was included on the F1 calendar almost every season until the final race, in 1993.
The news comes as F1 has announced in recent months two races currently on the calendar — the Belgian Grand Prix and the Dutch Grand Prix — are either seeing their run on the schedule come to an end, or move to a rotational basis. The Dutch Grand Prix will “finish its amazing run” in 2026, while the Belgian Grand Prix’s recent extension will see the race on the F1 schedule in 2026, 2027, 2029, and 2031, skipping 2028 and 2030. These changes could open up spots on the annual calendar for new venues, such as South Africa.
In recent years many key figures in F1 have pushed for the sport’s return to Africa, including driver Lewis Hamilton.
With this step, that goal is closer to becoming reality.
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