Like many watching the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday, and seeing the FIA-approved news that Spa would host the 2023 leg once more, had me deflated. What did this mean? Sadly, no deal has been signed to host an Formula One race at Kyalami. Show The reckless way certain media went chasing clicks by announcing that the race would happen, off the back of some half-baked frozen nuggets of information, kick-started a hype train with immense energy. A positive spinoff is that we learnt that South Africans are hungry for it. But we will have to wait a bit longer. More details will follow in due course but perhaps this was – allow me to play devil’s advocate here – a blessing in disguise. Why? For starters, given the sheer gravity of the logistics and planning behind hosting an event of this nature, anything short of a perfect job could see us off the list for good, and we certainly don’t want that. Think long game here. The reason? Well, as I said, more details will follow, but what we do know is owing to a host of complexities behind the scenes to ensure Kyalami, Motorsport South Africa, F1 and the promoter all sing from the same hymn sheet, an agreement could not be reached. I mean, there is a lot of money behind this. It’s certainly not a trivial transaction like buying a loaf of bread from the convenience store. One of the logistical issues is getting the track to the necessary grade. Funding and time are needed for track modifications such as the procurement of safety barriers and construction to increase the runoff room at several turns. Yes, how street circuits like Monaco and Baku get away with it is a contentious topic but let’s play by the rules and make the authorities happy. Some good news is this certainly doesn’t mean the deal is off the table. It just means more time is needed to get all the ducks in a row. None of the heads of the powers that be will be rushed into a deal, so let’s all practise patience. Coming from a millennial, this took restraint, even to type. For now, let’s enjoy the sport and save a little for those tickets when the time does come, and when it does, that sweet moment will be the sweetest.
Speculation is rife about South Africa's involvement in the 2023 or 2024 Formula 1
season. F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali's meeting with Kyalami Circuit (the venue earmarked for an SA GP) owner Toby Venter on Monday, one day after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, fuelled suggestions that the country is indeed in the running to host a race. Domenicali made a stop in South Africa en route to Canada for this weekend's Canadian Grand Prix. It is believed that talks with various stakeholders, including Venter, are already well under way, but questions still linger, leaving room for public speculation. Adrian Scholtz, Chief Executive Officer at Motorsport South Africa (MSA), confirmed to Sport24 that negotiations are under way, but that the body is not in a position to comment on speculation or rumours. "MSA can confirm that negotiations are under way between several key role players (including Kyalami) to enable the return of F1 to South Africa," Scholtz said. "I am sure you will appreciate that these negotiations are sensitive and involve a number of stakeholders. "An announcement can be expected if and when the negotiations are successfully concluded, and the relevant agreements are put in place. In the meantime, I am afraid it would not be appropriate for MSA to either speculate on the outcome or provide any further comment."  Toby Venter South Africans will benefit The South African Grand Prix Association is the promoter behind the race's return to South Africa and has long advocated hard for it. The notable personalities behind the SAGPA include SA's only F1 champion, Jody Scheckter, who won the championship in 1979, and Warren Scheckter. Scheckter Jr, founder and CEO of the SAGPA, recently engaged in conversation with Double Apex, confirming that there is indeed movement in making the race a reality. But while this is ongoing, they are also working on making the race accessible to ordinary South Africans. READ: How SA could force its way onto Formula One race calendar in 2023 Scheckter told the publication: "It must be clear that we do not want locals to be excluded. Therefore, tickets will be discounted for South Africans. There will be an allocation set aside that you can only access as a South African resident." Social media has been rife with speculation about ticket prices, but Scheckter confirmed that it "will be well within reach of your average F1 fan." The race promoter, working with the involved stakeholders, including the Kyalami Circuit, is looking to increase seating capacity to 90 000, including general access, grandstand seating, and hospitality areas. How much will a F1 ticket cost in SA?This deal with DHL, according to F1sasha, will likely mean that the logistics company will shuttle F1 equipment to South Africa if the country does return to the calendar. The tweet was corroborated by F1Insider, who said that tickets will likely go for around R5,000.
How much is a ticket for F1 France GP 2022?Tickets are now available for the 2022 French Grand Prix. Prices for 3-day tickets start from €160 for General Admission and rise to just over €600 for the seats in the Main Grandstand (Ligne de Départ) facing the podium.
Will there be an F1 2023?Updated: Thursday 29th September 2022 at 12:15.
F1 will hold six different sprint races in 2023, double the number held this season. The format was introduced in 2021 at the British Grand Prix and two more were held that season, at Monza and Interlagos.
What is the 2023 F1 schedule?F1 Calendar 2023. |
