2024 F1 calendar: Kyalami could replace Spa-Francorchamps

2024 F1 calendar: Kyalami could replace Spa-Francorchamps. Kyalami could replace Spa-Francorchamps.

F1, Kyalami is back in contention
In Formula 1, which seeks spectators all over the world, a championship that does not visit all continents sounds strange. That’s why former Ferrari boss and current Formula 1 chief executive officer Stefano Domenicali is pushing hard to have a Grand Prix in South Africa, at the Kyalami track.

Contacts initiated
The management of Formula 1 still hopes to be able to have another race in South Africa, the first since 1993. The top management has done everything possible to introduce it already this year, on the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of the last Grand Prix, but an economic agreement has not been found with the promoter of the circuit. The Kyalami organizers have not kept all their promises, but perhaps also with the help of the government, they are determined to return to the sport as early as next year. This was reported by de Telegraaf, according to which there will already be important news within the next few weeks.

Spa-Francorchamps at risk
The lack of agreement between the promoter and Formula 1 meant that Spa-Francorchamps had even more chances to stay in Formula 1 for now: the Belgian circuit obtained a contract extension, but only by one year, which shows that its place on the calendar is in constant discussion. At the moment there is no certainty that the historic Belgian track will also appear on the calendar for next season, and indeed its permanence seems to depend a lot on the fate of China and South Africa: if both are confirmed for the 2024 championship, the current Concorde Agreement would exclude Spa-Francorchamps, and it would be a tremendous loss for the Formula 1 World Championship.

Improvements are needed
The Kyalami track was renovated in 2020 and since then has hosted the GTC Championship and the South African Touring Car Championship. It was the venue for a Formula 1 Grand Prix from 1967 to 1985 and subsequently in 1992 and 1993: at the moment it has a grade 2 license, but a transition to grade 1 is required to host a Formula 1 World Championship race. Modifications are therefore necessary for the Kyalami track to become compatible with the standards of modern Formula 1.