South Africa and Indonesia approach F1
The two countries aim to join the World Cup calendar by 2028 or 2029, with reforms and investments.
Formula 1 lived a boom in recent years and Liberty Media, the company that markets the World Cup, received several proposals from countries and cities with the intention of joining the calendar. The current Concord Pact, which expires at the end of this year, marks 25 major awards as an annual stop, Figure that the promoter tried to raise 30 in the renewal signed last March (valid until 2030), but collided head -on with the refusal of the teams. In fact, you don’t even get to the maximum, because there are 24 races a year. Thus, the rotation option arose, this is to sign a long -term contract with a headquarters, but with appearances sauteed on the agenda. The Belgium GP in Spa-Francorchamps premiered the system: it renewed until 2031 and will receive the category in 2026, 2027, 2029 and 2031. The gaps that the Belgian track will leave will be occupied by another headquarters.
South Korea, Indonesia, Rwanda, South Africa, Türkiye and Argentina showed interest in the last time to join the calendar. On the 2026 agenda, already announced by the F1, the Emilia-Romagna GP disappeared in Icola, and its hole was occupied by the GP of Madrid. Thus, Spain will have two visits next year, because the capital adds to Barcelona. The contract with the Catalan appointment expires just next year and its renewal would occur if it enters the rotation system that Belgium entered. From countries with the intention of joining, there are two that took huge steps in recent days: Indonesia and South Africa.
The Asian country gave signs Clear to organize a GP in the streets of its capital, Bangkok. After the visit of Stefano Domenicali, CEO of F1, at the beginning of the season, this week it was known that the Council of Ministers approved the budget for Invest 1.2 billion dollars to reach an agreement with the World Cup to host for five years from 2028. The news was confirmed by Sorawong Thientong, Minister of Indonesian Tourism.
Meanwhile, South Africa took a big step. Initially, F1 and Fia pointed to Rwanda. In fact, the awards ceremony with which the Federation closed the 2024 season was in Kigali, the Ruandesa capital. However, the war conflict that began in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and which has a participation of Rwanda, stopped the talks. Thus, the chances of South Africa, a country that received the category, the last, in 1993 (Victoria de Alain Prost) grew.
The idea of South Africa is to use the Kyalami Autodrome, owned by Toby Vent since 2014. Since then, the property was renovated and remodeled and was in a degree situation 2 of the FIA, the previous scale to be able to receive a GP. The International Automobile Federation approved the modifications plans to be grade 1, as confirmed by the people who regent the track. The update will aim to improve the escape routes, containment barriers, protection fences, pianos and drainage. The works will be in charge of Apex Circuit Desing, a company that designed the Miami track. The FIA gave Kyalami three years to finish the autodrome and could join the calendar in 2028.
