Negotiations 'progressing well' for F1 race in Africa, says Domenicali

Formula 1 is making good progress towards adding a race on the African continent in future, according to CEO and president Stefano Domenicali.

The world championship has not visited the continent since 1993 (ED: the 1993 South African GP, main image), and recent attempts to bring F1 back have produced discussions with potential hosts in South Africa and Rwanda. While not disclosing which country is currently the most likely option, Domenicali said it remains a priority region for F1 to target, while continuing to evaluate expressions of interest from other continents.

“Negotiations are progressing very well in Africa,” Domenicali said. “By the way, I forget - because things are happening so quickly - that next year we are back again in Portugal, we are back again in Turkey. So once again, other places that will host a grand prix in the future.

“We are having other discussions in South America. We have discussions in the Far East. And we have more requests in China, and Japan, but for the moment, we want to stay with one race in China because we need to consolidate the market stronger before thinking (of) other options there.”

Domenicali said F1’s growth is not just applicable to newer markets, but that negotiations over television rights in Europe show the interest from countries that have lost races in recent years.

“Let me take two examples in Europe - Germany and France," he said. "I mean, the relation with (French broadcaster) Canal+ is fantastic. We are not having grand prix (in) France, not because we don't want (to), but … my phone is always available to have a race in France, [and] if they want to do it, we are here. But Canal+ is really looking forward to extend our deal because the numbers are really good and the sport is really in a great shape.

“Germany, for the first time, we are reconnecting with the possibility of having contact with the Hockenheim people to see if in the future – long-term, not short-term – they can have a race back.

“Now, with the deal we are having with (German broadcaster) RTL, the numbers are getting different, and in the new tender on the German market, we will have, for the first time, more than one operator that is interested to be part of this tender. So, it's another sign that in Europe, that is our very important market, the attention is getting even bigger.”