Surprising African venue in F1 bid backed by ex-Ferrari driver

Zanzibar has become the latest location to signal interest in potentially hosting a Formula 1 Grand Prix - and has backing from former Renault and Ferrari driver Giancarlo Fisichella. The autonomous region in Tanzania has a purported €500 million in investment from the Zanzibar Investment Promotion Authority (ZIPA) that was agreed in May 2023. The track itself could be located on the south-west of the island off the Tanzania coast in the Indian Ocean, near Dar es Salaam, with 2.5 square kilometres set aside for construction. It is hoped that the construction of the track could start by September 2025, with a completion date of 2027, although a lack of infrastructure on the island means further investment would be required beyond that to create an FIA Grade 1 track. Three-time Grand Prix winner Fisichella is claimed to be supervising the technical aspects of the track, with members of the Zanzibar parliament and government officials also backing the bid. RacingNews365 has reached out to the Zanzibar Investment Promotion Authority for comment. F1 has been keen to secure a Grand Prix in Africa, with the last race having been held at Kyalami in 1993. A return has been suggested, with Lewis Hamilton keen for the race to happen, but a combination of infrastructure and economic problems has meant is not likely in the near future.