Lewis Hamilton may finally get biggest F1 dream granted as chief...

Lewis Hamilton may finally get biggest F1 dream granted as chief…read more

Lewis Hamilton has long dreamt of seeing the return of the South African Grand Prix before his Formula 1 career comes to an end, and that wish may be closer to reality. Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei recently confirmed that there is still significant interest in bringing F1 back to the Kyalami Circuit in South Africa, a location that hasn’t hosted a race in over 30 years.

The last time Formula 1 raced at the iconic Kyalami track was back in 1993. Since then, the sport has not returned to the African continent, something that has increasingly frustrated Hamilton. The seven-time world champion has been vocal about this issue, expressing his desire to see the series expand its global reach. In an interview with Sky Sports F1 last year, Hamilton highlighted the need for a race in Africa: “There’s one more race we need, and that’s going to be Africa. We have all the other continents, so why not there? That’s the one I’m working on pushing right now.”

Hamilton has long been an advocate for greater diversity and inclusion in the sport, and he sees an African Grand Prix as part of that vision. The Mercedes driver has emphasized the importance of expanding F1’s presence to places with rich motorsport history and enthusiastic fan bases, and South Africa, with its own motorsport legacy, seems like the ideal candidate.

Discussions about a potential return to Kyalami were progressing well for some time. However, recent political developments in South Africa have created ethical concerns that complicate the situation. A report from RacingNews365 pointed out that South Africa’s government has moved closer to Vladimir Putin’s Russia, raising moral questions about whether F1 should associate itself with the country under its current political climate. Liberty Media, which owns the commercial rights to Formula 1, would need to carefully navigate these concerns before moving forward with any plans for a race in South Africa.

Aside from political hurdles, there’s also the issue of the already jam-packed F1 calendar. The sport is currently operating with 24 races in a season, which has put considerable strain on the teams, drivers, and the entire paddock. Many in the sport have voiced concerns about the increasing demands of a lengthy and global schedule, making it difficult to add more races without potentially sacrificing existing ones.

The competition for new races is also fierce. Along with South Africa, countries like South Korea, Thailand, and even Rwanda have shown interest in hosting their own F1 events. With so many nations vying for a spot on the calendar, South Africa will have to face stiff competition to secure its place.

Despite these challenges, there’s still reason for Hamilton to remain optimistic. During a recent appearance at a Goldman Sachs conference, Maffei offered some encouraging remarks about the possibility of expanding the sport to new regions, including South Africa. “You can see, if we continue to drive viewership, we’re going to continue to drive increases in what we get paid in media rights,” Maffei said.

He went on to emphasize the growing global interest in F1 from potential race promoters, including those in South Africa. “We continue to see increased interest from promoters who want it; South Korea, Thailand, Rwanda, South Africa all want to race. The opportunity to bring races to those places at attractive prices for us is real,” Maffei explained.

It’s clear that Liberty Media sees value in expanding to new markets and continuing to build F1’s global footprint. The increasing popularity of the sport, driven in part by the success of the Netflix series Drive to Survive, has attracted a new generation of fans, many of whom are eager to see races in new locations. For Hamilton, who has played a key role in advocating for a more diverse and inclusive F1, the return of the South African Grand Prix would be a personal triumph.

The Kyalami Circuit itself holds a special place in the history of Formula 1. Located just outside Johannesburg, the track has hosted 20 F1 races between 1967 and 1993, with legendary drivers like Niki Lauda, Ayrton Senna, and Alain Prost all claiming victories there. Reviving this historic venue would be a nod to the sport’s rich heritage while opening the door to new opportunities for motorsport in Africa.

In the coming years, as Formula 1 continues to evolve and expand, the possibility of adding new races remains high. Hamilton’s dream of seeing a race in Africa is still within reach, but it will depend on whether Liberty Media can navigate the political and logistical challenges that stand in the way. Until then, Hamilton and fans alike will continue to push for the sport to return to the African continent, and for F1 to truly become a global championship.