South Africa F1 bid hit by Turkey calendar deal

South Africa’s hopes of bringing Formula 1 back to Africa before 2029 have taken another hit after Turkey secured a five-year deal to return from 2027, tightening an already full 24-race calendar and leaving little room for a new event.

Turkey’s comeback means 24 tracks are already contracted for 2027, matching the size of Formula 1’s recent calendars. That has sharpened the pressure on South Africa’s push, with one of the remaining routes to a future slot already closing as new venues compete for limited space.

That matters because South Africa has not hosted a grand prix since Alain Prost won at Kyalami in 1993. The current effort to end that absence is being led by South Africa’s Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie, but he has already acknowledged how far the country is from being ready. Speaking to ENCA earlier this year, McKenzie said: “Next year, definitely not. We have underestimated what is required to host an F1 event.” He added that officials had “got the experts and are putting together a bid they can’t refuse.”

Even without official approval or a selected bid, Kyalami has pressed on with work toward FIA Grade 1 homologation, the requirement to host Formula 1. The circuit has begun upgrades reported at between $5 million and $10 million as part of that effort.

The government is also trying to strengthen the bid politically. At a media briefing in Pretoria this week, McKenzie said President Cyril Ramaphosa will attend a Formula One Grand Prix later this year as part of that campaign.

“His Excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa has agreed to join me at a Formula One Grand Prix later this year. This is a working visit, not a social one,” McKenzie said. He said South Africa was working through the “commercial, logistical, infrastructural and safety requirements” needed to host a race, and added that the president’s visit would help the country “observe, engage and strengthen our case.”

McKenzie has also framed the bid as a wider issue for the continent. He said it was “not acceptable” that young African motorsport fans had never seen a race on home soil and added: “We intend to change that.”

The problem for South Africa is that determination alone may not be enough in the current market. Only three countries on the calendar, Singapore, Portugal and Mexico, are out of contract at the end of 2028, and Singapore is expected to renew. Thailand is also pushing hard for a place, increasing the competition for any opening.

That leaves South Africa trying to break into a crowded calendar while relying on sponsors rather than direct government funding to make the event viable. With Formula 1’s popularity rising and hosting fees likely to climb in any bidding battle, Turkey’s deal has not just delayed South Africa’s return bid. It has made the commercial challenge of getting Africa back onto the calendar even harder.