Formula One Eyes Africa: Kyalami’s Comeback Dream

By Jigyasa Singh


For decades, F1 has claimed to race around the world, yet one continent has remained off the map: Africa. That may soon change. Formula 1 hasn’t raced in Africa since 1993, when Alain Prost took the checkered flag at Kyalami Circuit. Since then, seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton has been one of the sport’s most vocal advocates for a return, famously stating, “We can’t be adding races in other locations and continuing to ignore Africa.”

Now, extensive redevelopment plans aim to bring Kyalami up to modern Grade 1 standards required by the FIA, potentially making it the centrepiece of F1’s long-awaited African comeback.



Why Africa Matters

The push into South Africa is about more than nostalgia – it’s a strategic move. F1 under new ownership has aggressively targeted emerging markets and younger, digitally savvy audiences. Africa, with its rapidly growing population and rising middle class, represents untapped potential.

Broadcast audiences across the continent have surged, and social media engagement among younger fans has skyrocketed. For F1, a South African Grand Prix isn’t just about racing – it’s about long-term growth.

“It completes the map,” says an industry insider. “A world championship without Africa has always felt incomplete.”



The Road to 2027

In late 2025, optimism was high after the South African cabinet approved a three-year bid starting in 2027. But by early 2026, Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie admitted the country had “underestimated what is required” to host a modern Grand Prix.

Between massive hosting fees (R2 billion) and technical upgrades, the focus shifted. The new goal: build a bid for 2028 or 2029 that Formula One Management (FOM) “cannot refuse.”



Kyalami: Heritage Meets Challenge

Kyalami remains the frontrunner. The track is currently Grade 2, but upgrades to drainage, runoff areas, and safety barriers are underway. Circuit owner Toby Venter says it is “90% ready,” needing only light-touch adjustments for F1’s elite standards.

At 1,700 meters above sea level, Kyalami presents a high-altitude challenge similar to Mexico City, testing cooling systems and aerodynamics alike. Drivers and engineers will need precision, making the track a technical as well as historic choice.



Africa’s Rising Contenders

South Africa isn’t alone in the race. Rwanda has emerged as a serious contender with plans for a permanent facility in Kigali, while Morocco and Zanzibar have also expressed interest.

South Africa’s strength lies in heritage: a legendary track, deep racing culture, and a ready-made solution. Rwanda offers vision: a state-backed, brand-new track designed to showcase the country globally. Both bids carry risks – political complexity and high costs for South Africa, and infrastructure and experience gaps for Rwanda.



What a South African GP Could Look Like

If the 2028 bid succeeds, fans can expect a festival-like weekend. Unlike street circuits in Vegas or Miami, Kyalami’s flowing, “old-school” layout is a driver favourite. The combination of history, altitude, and culture could make the South African Grand Prix a standout, marking F1’s final step toward a truly global championship.



By 2027, the dream of Formula One returning to Africa may finally be realised – a race that celebrates heritage, tests engineering, and signals a new era of global racing. For Africa, the checkered flag has never looked closer.

Red Bull’s DM01: A Tribute, a Challenge, and a New Era in F1

All eyes are on Red Bull as it prepares to enter its first-ever season as a fully independent engine manufacturer in 2026 with its DM01 power unit. But the name of this engine isn’t just a random technical code – it carries deep sentimental meaning, honouring the man who made it all possible.

For the first time in its 21-year history, Red Bull will no longer be a “customer” of Renault, Honda, or Ferrari. Instead, the team is building its own engines on-campus in Milton Keynes, England. When the first fire-up of the 2026 prototype echoed through the factory, it carried a designation that surprised many: DM01.

The engine was unveiled alongside Oracle Red Bull Racing’s 2026 car at a high-profile event in Detroit, a symbolic choice reflecting the entry of Ford Motor Company as a technical partner. The collaboration bridges Red Bull’s ambition with Ford’s engineering heritage, bringing together hundreds of engineers to achieve what few believed possible just years ago.



A Bold Step Toward Independence

The decision to build its own power unit stems from Red Bull’s long-term strategy to take full technical control of its racing programme. Previously, the team relied on external manufacturers – first Renault, then Honda – for engines. But with Honda’s departure and the introduction of radically revised 2026 technical regulations, Red Bull Powertrains seized a once-in-a-generation opportunity: to design and build a Formula One engine entirely from scratch.



A Tribute to Dietrich Mateschitz

The “DM” in DM01 stands for Dietrich Mateschitz, the co-founder of Red Bull, who passed away in October 2022. Mateschitz was the visionary who green-lit the Red Bull Powertrains project in 2021. At the time, many in the F1 paddock thought it was audacious to attempt building an engine capable of competing with giants like Mercedes and Ferrari.

By naming the first-ever unit DM01, Red Bull has ensured that Mateschitz’s legacy is physically part of the car’s DNA.

“It was his vision, his boldness, and that Red Bull spirit that is the reason we are all here today,” said Team Principal Laurent Mekies during the Detroit launch. “He was not scared by the scale of the challenge, and this is our way of making him proud.”



The Ford Partnership: More Than a Sticker

While Red Bull is building the hardware, the DM01 is a genuine collaboration with Ford. After 22 years away from F1, Ford returned as a strategic technical partner, embedding engineers in Milton Keynes to focus on the engine’s hybrid systems:

Battery Cell Technology: High-power density cells to meet the 350kW electrical demand of the 2026 rules.
Control Software: The “brain” that tells the engine when to deploy petrol and when to use electricity.
Advanced Manufacturing: 3D-printing and innovative techniques to create complex parts previously thought un-machinable.
This partnership is more than branding – it is a hands-on engineering collaboration that has elevated the DM01 beyond expectations.



Performance Out of the Box

The DM01 has already silenced skeptics. During February 2026 pre-season testing in Bahrain, the engine was the talk of the paddock. Rivals, including Mercedes’ Toto Wolff, described the Red Bull-Ford unit as the “benchmark” for reliability. Max Verstappen completed over 600 laps across initial tests without a single major mechanical failure, signalling that Red Bull’s gamble may pay off from day one.



The DM01 represents more than engineering achievement – it embodies Red Bull’s ambition, Mateschitz’s legacy, and the beginning of a new era in Formula One. As the 2026 season approaches, the eyes of the F1 world will be on Milton Keynes, watching to see if the DM01 can convert bold vision into championship-winning performance.