Might 25 (GMM) The newest developments relating to System 1’s push for a grand prix in Africa might be excellent news for Barcelona.
Over the previous couple of years, it has been clear that Liberty Media, below F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali’s reign, was eager to race in Africa – the one continent lacking from the present world championship.
Three separate initiatives, in Kyalami, Cape City (each South Africa) and Rwanda, have been proposed. Nevertheless, in Monaco this weekend, Domenicali admitted progress with all three has slowed.
“Negotiations are ongoing,” stated the Italian, “we’re regularly shifting ahead and dealing collectively to search out one of the best answer.
“However when a brand new alternative arises, you will need to guarantee that it has long-term prospects. We can’t go to a brand new place with out having a assure that we’ll keep there for a very long time.”
Domenicali revealed: “We’re discussing three venues, however I don’t count on any selections within the quick time period. We’re actually occupied with holding a grand prix on the African continent, however for now it’s a query of discovering the correct plan.
“Hopefully we will inform you extra about this challenge quickly.”
Bother in Africa might be music to the ears of nervous race organisers in Barcelona, as Madrid is taking on the official Spanish GP title from 2026 – the final yr within the Circuit de Catalunya’s present F1 contract.
On the centre of negotiations for a brand new deal is regional enterprise minister Miquel Samper, who doubles because the president of the System 1 circuit in Barcelona.
“The negotiations are going very nicely, shifting ahead,” he’s quoted as saying by Diario Sport.
“That’s the truth, but it surely additionally means completely nothing. One of these negotiation, with so many pursuits and so many circuits presently eager to host a grand prix, forces us to be very discreet, as was the case after we had been capable of shut the settlement with MotoGP and Dorna.”
Samper concluded by admitting there may be “extra competitors from cities, not simply Madrid, that need to host a grand prix”.
