South Africa Reaches Huge Milestone In Formula 1 Entry Bid

South Africa is making significant progress in its journey to host a Formula 1 Grand Prix by 2026, by inviting potential host venues to showcase their suitability for the prestigious event.

The Formula 1 Bid Steering Committee, backed by South Africa's Department of Sport, Arts, and Culture, has formally sought expressions of interest from prospective venues.

South Africa last hosted a Formula 1 Grand Prix in 1993 at the iconic Kyalami circuit. Since then, the nation has been keen on reclaiming its place. This effort is being managed by a dedicated Bid Steering Committee, spearheaded by the Minister of Sports, Arts, and Culture, Gayton McKenzie.

The committee's role is to ensure that all the bid requirements are met to increase South Africa's chances of securing the coveted race.

The call for proposals aims to secure a venue to host the event for a 10-year period starting from either 2026 or 2027.

The Formula 1 Bid Steering Committee, as reported by The Race:

“A suitable promoter and/or venue (circuit facility) and host city will be chosen to submit a bid to the FIA and Formula 1 for consideration with the necessary approvals and support from the DSAC.”

While Kyalami is a premier candidate due to its rich history with the South African Grand Prix, interest is also gathering around Cape Town as a potential venue.

With a deadline of January 31, 2025, for accepting expressions of interest, the committee aims to finalize a shortlist of venues soon after. The selection will mark a crucial phase in South Africa's bid.

Gayton McKenzie later commented:

"The race is going to happen at Kyalami.

"Kyalami is doing what they need to do. [Circuit bosses] Toby Venter and Willie Venter are doing a great job bringing Kyalami to F1 standards. They have put money in there, it is there.

"They have met with Apex, that is doing the track to bring it to F1 standards. We are making sure that we are going to host, so I think we are looking at 2027. We were there, it’s going to happen. It’s coming here."

By bringing Formula 1 racing back to South Africa, the country could replicate the economic success seen when Formula E was held in Cape Town in 2023, which generated over ZAR 1 billion in economic impact.

2025 Formula One Season Schedule

Pre-Season Testing

Dates: 26-28 Feb
Location: Bahrain, Sakhir
Event Name: FORMULA 1 ARAMCO PRE-SEASON TESTING 2025
Circuit: Pre-Season Testing

Australia

Dates: 14-16 Mar
Location: Australia, Melbourne
Event Name: FORMULA 1 AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX 2025
Circuit: Melbourne circuit

China

Dates: 21-23 Mar
Location: China, Shanghai
Event Name: FORMULA 1 HEINEKEN CHINESE GRAND PRIX 2025
Circuit: Shanghai circuit

Japan

Dates: 04-06 Apr
Location: Japan, Suzuka
Event Name: FORMULA 1 LENOVO JAPANESE GRAND PRIX 2025
Circuit: Suzuka circuit

Bahrain

Dates: 11-13 Apr
Location: Bahrain, Sakhir
Event Name: FORMULA 1 BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX 2025
Circuit: Sakhir circuit

Saudi Arabia

Dates: 18-20 Apr
Location: Saudi Arabia, Jeddah
Event Name: FORMULA 1 STC SAUDI ARABIAN GRAND PRIX 2025
Circuit: Jeddah circuit

Miami

Dates: 02-04 May
Location: Miami, Miami
Event Name: FORMULA 1 CRYPTO.COM MIAMI GRAND PRIX 2025
Circuit: Miami circuit

Emilia-Romagna

Dates: 16-18 May
Location: Emilia-Romagna, Imola
Event Name: FORMULA 1 AWS GRAN PREMIO DEL MADE IN ITALY E DELL'EMILIA-ROMAGNA 2025
Circuit: Imola circuit

Monaco

Dates: 23-25 May
Location: Monaco, Monaco
Event Name: FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX DE MONACO 2025
Circuit: Monaco circuit

Spain

Dates: 30 May-01 Jun
Location: Spain, Barcelona
Event Name: FORMULA 1 ARAMCO GRAN PREMIO DE ESPAÑA 2025
Circuit: Barcelona circuit

Canada

Dates: 13-15 Jun
Location: Canada, Montréal
Event Name: FORMULA 1 PIRELLI GRAND PRIX DU CANADA 2025
Circuit: Montréal circuit

Austria

Dates: 27-29 Jun
Location: Austria, Spielberg
Event Name: FORMULA 1 MSC CRUISES AUSTRIAN GRAND PRIX 2025
Circuit: Spielberg circuit

Great Britain

Dates: 04-06 Jul
Location: Great Britain, Silverstone
Event Name: FORMULA 1 QATAR AIRWAYS BRITISH GRAND PRIX 2025
Circuit: Silverstone circuit

Belgium

Dates: 25-27 Jul
Location: Belgium, Spa-Francorchamps
Event Name: FORMULA 1 BELGIAN GRAND PRIX 2025
Circuit: Spa-Francorchamps circuit

Hungary

Dates: 01-03 Aug
Location: Hungary, Budapest
Event Name: FORMULA 1 LENOVO HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX 2025
Circuit: Budapest circuit

Netherlands

Dates: 29-31 Aug
Location: Netherlands, Zandvoort
Event Name: FORMULA 1 HEINEKEN DUTCH GRAND PRIX 2025
Circuit: Zandvoort circuit

Italy

Dates: 05-07 Sep
Location: Italy, Monza
Event Name: FORMULA 1 PIRELLI GRAN PREMIO D’ITALIA 2025
Circuit: Monza circuit

Azerbaijan

Dates: 19-21 Sep
Location: Azerbaijan, Baku
Event Name: FORMULA 1 QATAR AIRWAYS AZERBAIJAN GRAND PRIX 2025
Circuit: Baku circuit

Singapore

Dates: 03-05 Oct
Location: Singapore, Marina Bay
Event Name: FORMULA 1 SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX 2025
Circuit: Marina Bay circuit

United States

Dates: 17-19 Oct
Location: United States, Austin
Event Name: FORMULA 1 MSC CRUISES UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX 2025
Circuit: Austin circuit

Mexico

Dates: 24-26 Oct
Location: Mexico, Mexico City
Event Name: FORMULA 1 GRAN PREMIO DE LA CIUDAD DE MÉXICO 2025
Circuit: Mexico City circuit

Brazil

Dates: 07-09 Nov
Location: Brazil, São Paulo
Event Name: FORMULA 1 MSC CRUISES GRANDE PRÊMIO DE SÃO PAULO 2025
Circuit: São Paulo circuit

Las Vegas

Dates: 20-22 Nov
Location: Las Vegas, Las Vegas
Event Name: FORMULA 1 HEINEKEN SILVER LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX 2025
Circuit: Las Vegas circuit

Qatar

Dates: 28-30 Nov
Location: Qatar, Lusail
Event Name: FORMULA 1 QATAR AIRWAYS QATAR GRAND PRIX 2025
Circuit: Lusail circuit

Abu Dhabi

Dates: 05-07 Dec
Location: Abu Dhabi, Yas Island
Event Name: FORMULA 1 ETIHAD AIRWAYS ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX 2025
Circuit: Yas Island circuit