Formula One is getting closer to winning a South African Grand Prix at the old race site Kyalami, which will likely be on the schedule as early as next year.
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali flew straight from Baku, host of the Azerbaijan GP on Sunday, to South Africa to discuss the possibility of a return.
F1 has managed to add a race in Africa, the only continent left without.
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton was one of the strongest supporters of the race at Kyalami, located north of Johannesburg.
Kayalami hosted F1 races from 1967 to 1985, and again in 1992 and 1993, and has recently acquired the FIA-standard facilities needed to host a modern race.
While 2024 has always been seen as the most likely return point for Kyalami, it is understood that F1 is now keen to secure a race in 2023 if possible.
If it does, F1 will officially hit the 24 race limit outlined in the Conchord Agreement that binds all teams participating in F1. Kyalami will participate in the new Las Vegas Grand Prix, scheduled for Thanksgiving weekend, and the Qatar Grand Prix, which has signed a 10-year contract to host the races.
The Chinese Grand Prix also has a contract to host a race in 2023 but the status of that event remains uncertain due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Among the races that will pave the way, the French Grand Prix looks unlikely to continue after this year’s event at Paul Ricard. The future of the famous Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps is also uncertain.
