Make or break meeting for SA F1 GP this weekend in Austria

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Major steps to secure a multi-billion-Rand SA F1 GP deal will be taken this weekend in Spielberg, Austria. The Formula 1 circus moves on to the Red Bull Ring in the Styrian mountains this weekend, but it’s not just on-track action that will be top of mind for F1 fans.

Numerous media reports confirm that South African Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie, and other officials, are en route for the make or break SA F1 GP meeting. If speculation is to be believed, it’s understood the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit will make a long-awaited return to the F1 calendar after 35 years (in 2028).

SA F1 GP

Here’s what an SA F1 GP looked like 32-years ago, in 1993. Image: File

There are multiple projects aligned with F1’s mission to add new races to its existing 24-race calendar (Rwanda, Thailand, etc). However, it’s the missing continent of Africa that holds the greatest appeal. Just last week, the Kyalami GP Circuit near Johannesburg had its upgrade plans approved by the FIA.

Circuit owner Toby Venter described the necessary upgrades to move from Grade 2 to F1-ready Grade 1 as ‘light touch.’ The FIA gave the circuit three years (till 2028) to complete the necessary work. And now the Sports Minister and other officials are preparing to secure the major SA F1 GP deal.

MAKE OR BREAK MEETING

SA F1 GP — Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie, Gauteng Premier Lesufi and Kyalami’s Toby Venter at Kyalami. Image: File

“We will meet with Formula One Management (FOM) in Austria this week,” an upbeat McKenzie told eNCA. FOM refers to the Liberty Media-owned F1 management team that will be at the Austrian GP this weekend. “We want to submit an official SA F1 GP bid. The week after that – on Tuesday 1 July 2025 – we will announce who our winning SA F1 GP promoter will be. After that, it is all in the hands of Formula 1,” McKenzie revealed.

The historic Kyalami circuit has hosted no less than 21 F1 races over the years, until its last in 1993. Circuit owners have engaged with Apex Circuit Design – known for the Miami Grand Prix project – to oversee the necessary F1-ready circuit upgrades. “We have a circuit (Kyalami GP), we will have a promoter, and we have the biggest motorsport community in Africa. Bring on the SA F1 GP,” concluded McKenzie – with GMM