Stefano Domenicali reveals F1 negotiations over African grand prix return

F1 CEO and president Stefano Domenicali says "negotiations are progressing well" over a adding a race on the continent of Africa. 

F1 has not raced in Africa since the 1993 South African GP at Kyalami, and it is the only continent, Antarctica excepted, where a grand prix is not held. 

A potential return to Kyalami, located north of Johannesburg, has been heavily linked, but the links have publicly cooled in recent years, with Morocco and Rwanda also touted as possible host countries if a deal can be agreed.

Lewis Hamilton has signalled his desire to race in F1 until a race is held in Africa, with Domenicali explaining that talks are "progressing very well," as he also addressed the potential for another race in South America and the Far East.

"I think 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 Portugul, back again in Turkey, and we are having other discussions with [countries] in South America; we have discussions in the Far East.

"One thing I can tell you is that we have more requests [for a second race] in China and Japan, but for the moment, we want to stay with one race in China because we need to consolidate the market more strongly before thinking about having other options there."

In 2027, the Turkish Grand Prix returns on a five-year contract, with the Portuguese GP at Portimao returning on a two-year deal after stepping in for the '20 and '21 seasons during the period races were cancelled due to the COVID pandemic. 

The F1 calendar is also entering a new period of event rotation, with the Barcelona-Catalunya and Belgian Grands Prix agreeing to bi-annual rotation, with the Spa race to be held in 2027, 2029, and 2031, with Barcelona in 2028, 2030, and 2032.