Formula 1 to return to Africa?

F1 global director of race promotion Chloe Targett-Adams, who deals with event organisers, said that continent is top of the current wish list for new events. Reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton has stressed that Africa is where he would like the sport to go next. Former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone tried for many years to find a way to return to South Africa, which last hosted a round of the World Championship in 1993, and that desire has continued under Liberty Media’s management.

While South Africa remains the most likely venue there has also been interest from other countries, notably Morocco, which hosted a race in 1958.

Hamilton after last season's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (©Reuters)

Speaking at an online seminar, Targett-Adams admitted that it would only be just for F1 to make a return to Africa.

"I completely agree with Lewis, Africa is a continent that we don't race in, and that is just wrong. It's somewhere that we very much want, it's the priority. We've been in talks with possible options for a few years. And we're hoping that ultimately, we will be able to achieve a race there in the kind of near to mid-term. "

With the 2021 calendar currently set to feature 23 races, Targett-Adams concedes finding space for new events is the key issue.

"We're a global series, we're fortunate that there's a lot of interest, equally, there are limited spaces on the calendar. And working through that, Africa, US and Asia is where we're wanting to target in terms of new races, at this moment in time."