Domenicali: Negotiations for African GP Going Very Well

Stefano Domenicali, CEO and president of Formula 1, has given fans a glimmer of hope as he revealed that negotiations to bring a race to the African continent are "progressing very well." It's been a long wait since F1 last raced in Africa at the 1993 South African Grand Prix at Kyalami.

Africa remains the only continent, aside from Antarctica, without a round on the F1 calendar. Kyalami, located north of Johannesburg, has long been tipped as a potential host, but public interest had cooled in recent years. Morocco and Rwanda have also emerged as possible candidates if a deal can be struck.

Drivers like Lewis Hamilton have even expressed their desire to keep racing in F1 until an African Grand Prix happens. Domenicali's latest statement offers a response to that longing. He also touched on the possibility of adding races in South America and the Far East.

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"What I can say is that negotiations are progressing very well in Africa," Domenicali told media, including RacingNews365. "Next year, we are back again in Portugal, back again in Turkey, and we are having other discussions with [countries] in South America; we have discussions in the Far East."

Interestingly, there have been requests for a second race in China and Japan. However, Domenicali prefers to stick with one race in China for now. "We need to consolidate the market more strongly before thinking about having other options there," he explained.

This news comes amid major changes to the F1 calendar. The Turkish Grand Prix will return in 2027 on a five-year contract, while the Portuguese Grand Prix at Portimao will return on a two-year deal. Additionally, Barcelona-Catalunya and Belgium have agreed to a bi-annual rotation, with Spa hosting in 2027, 2029, and 2031, and Barcelona in 2028, 2030, and 2032.

If these negotiations bear fruit, we could witness a new chapter in F1's history in Africa. The big question is: who will host? Will Kyalami shine again, or will Rwanda or Morocco surprise the world? Only time will tell.