The South African Grand Prix’s eagerly anticipated return to the F1 schedule has been postponed due to the nation’s relations with Russia.
While refusing to criticise the invasion and taking a neutral posture on the conflict in Ukraine, South Africa has recently been accused of arming Russia, a charge that President Cyril Ramaphosa has vehemently refuted.
The scenario has placed the African country in a challenging political position, which F1 chiefs have apparently acknowledged and are now supposedly addressing.
According to RacingNews365, plans to revive the race that was last held in 1993 have been abandoned, news that will no doubt disappoint fans who have been calling for its return for years.
This will include Sir Lewis Hamilton, who has repeatedly stated his desire to race in Africa, saying back in April 2022: ‘We’re pretty much on every other continent, so why not? Ultimately, my ancestors are from there so that’s why it is important for me personally.’
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali echoed this sentiment, adding that an African race would be their next priority once they had sorted the additions of the Miami and Las Vegas Grand Prix.
And though there have been many difficult financial hurdles to overcome, there was confidence that a deal could be struck soon for the event to be held at the newly renovated Kyalami circuit.
The South African Grand Prix was first held back in 1962 and moved to Kyalami five years later where it remained until the mid 1980s when it was removed from the calendar because of Apartheid, before returning in 1992 only for financial issues to see it cancelled just a year later.
Had South Africa made it onto the 2024 calendar, it would likely have taken the place of the Belgian Grand Prix which has been under threat for some time despite its popularity among fans and drivers.
But with F1 chiefs determined to have a record-breaking 24-race calendar, they will now likely strive to renew its contract for at least another year.
2023 was meant to have been the first 24-race season in the sport’s history, only for China to be cancelled because of COVID while the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix was also called off due to major flooding in the Italian region.
In the meantime, this season continues with the Canadian Grand Prix on 18th June.