27 January 2024 , 01:00
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South Africa's only Formula 1 champion insists his country was "that close" to getting its annual race back this year.
The South African Grand Prix was, for a long time, a staple of the F1 calendar. It was a world championship event for the first time in 1960, held at the Prince George Circuit in Eastern Cape Province, and moved north to Kyalami seven years later.
It was held annually until 1985, which proved to be the last race for seven years due to Apartheid. It returned in 1992 and was held the following year, but Alain Prost's victory proved to be the last and, three decades later, F1 has yet to return to the continent.
There were plans to revive the event and it was suggested that the South African GP would return this year. Jody Scheckter, who won his home race in 1975 and the world championship four years later, has a nephew, Warren, who has been part of that bid to bring F1 back to Kyalami.
Speaking to the Formula For Success podcast about a possible return to Africa, he said: "I think it could have happened last year - my nephew had spent three years talking to government, getting everything in place and they were going to run it at Kyalami.
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"Formula 1 came down there really nearly to sign it up as I understand, and the guy at Kyalami said, 'No, I want this much money and I want to do this and I want to do that'. And the government, as I understand, saw the friction between the waters and backed away from it. It was 'that close' to happening."
The South African GP may still return in the coming years, but there are hoops still to jump through - not least the fact Kyalami is only a Grade 2 circuit according to the FIA, and so would need improvement to host F1 events. Its addition to the calendar would be amazing news for Lewis Hamilton, who has long advocated for the sport's return to Africa.
Speaking to fans at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last November, the seven-time world champion said he'd love to help it to return before he retires from F1. "I'm working in the background to get South Africa on the [calendar]. That's like such a dream for me. I've got to stay until they get that race," he said.
The sport's chief executive, Stefano Domenicali, has also lent his support to a race in Africa. He feels it is vital for F1 and would lend authenticity to the world championship name.
The Italian said last year. "100 percent, Africa is still a continent that we are working very hard. As I always said, we need to find the right partners, the right middle-term plan. What I want to avoid is that we go there one year and then forget it. We are working, trying to find a solution for the best of the sport, for the best of the country."