The question whether Cape Town or South Africa will host a Formula One (F1) Grand Prix in the foreseeable future remains to be seen.
Since 2024, several media houses have reported on South Africa potentially hosting an F1 race, following Minster of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie’s meeting with the Formula One Group’s president and chief executive, Stefano Domenicali, and Mohammed Ben Sulayem, president of the Fédération Internationale de I’Automobile (FIA), global motorsport’s governing body.
Back then, McKenzie alluded to the country possibly hosting an F1 race in the future. Attempts were made to get the ball rolling with a Formula One Bid Steering Committee (BSC) established by the department in December 2024 to evaluate potential promoters, a process that concluded in June 2025.
In a statement published on 7 July 2025, McKenzie thanked the BSC for selecting a potential promoter and credible commercial partner for the country’s first F1 Grand Prix, since the last race was held in 1993 at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit in Gauteng.
Kyalami and a potential street race in Cape Town were two of the options reported in the media.
The BSC was chaired by Bakang Lethoko. She was joined by 12 others, including Vic Maharaj, Motorsport South Africa (MSA) chief executive.
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A BSC statement, dated 30 June 2025, said McKenzie was informed a potential promoter was selected following an “exhaustive, transparent and competitive process”.
On registration, bidders were required to deposit a fully refundable amount of R10 million. Three bids were received but only one presented to the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture.
“However, before any details of this bid can be made public in any way, numerous processes and engagements remain to be followed,” the statement continued.
According to the department, Formula One Management most importantly, would have to review the bid, give inputs, feedback and recommendations to the government before Cabinet’s approval. “Only once all the relevant approvals have been obtained will any announcement regarding any successful bidder be made,” the statement read. No further statement has been issued since then.
This week, TygerBurger and NovaNews approached the department for an update on the process.
The publication wanted to know if Formula One or the FIA had reviewed the bid and given their inputs and feedback, and when the department would make the successful bidder public. No feedback has yet been received.
Stacey-Lee Khojane, spokesperson for the Minister, did indicate she would get back as soon as she was able.
In 2024 Mckenzie said South Africa was targeting inclusion in the 2027 F1 calendar. In February this year, however, eNCA reported McKenzie as saying F1 would not be coming to South Africa any time soon, citing underestimation of the cost of hosting such an event. In another report, he confirmed the department is still in discussion with F1.
Host countries usually sign multi-year contracts with F1, with Barcelona-Catalunya this year confirming it would host races until 2032, according to Sky Sports.
This year there are a total of 24 F1 races on the calendar. On 15 March, the FIA issued a statement confirming two races – in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia – would not take place in April, owing to the current turbulence in the Middle East.
Over the past few years, Formula 1 Grand Prix have been hosted in several other countries, including India (Buddh International Circuit), France (Paul Ricard and Magny-Cours), Germany (Hockenheimring and Nürburgring) and Malaysia (Sepang).
