South Africa GP: Max Verstappen joins Lewis Hamilton calls for Kyalami return

Reigning Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen has said that bringing back the South African Grand Prix at Kyalami would be a ‘cool addition’ to the calendar, with him joining calls made by Lewis Hamilton to see the circuit return.

F1 hasn’t raced at the track since 1993 and Africa as a continent has been missing off of the calendar whilst the other continents, bar Antarctica obviously, all host at least one Grand Prix.

It would make sense, then, given F1 is a world championship, to get a race back in Africa in the near future, and Hamilton has called for that regularly in recent times.

The 7-time champion has said before:

“The place I really feel, to my heart, is most important to me is to get a race back in South Africa. I think there is a great following out there, and I think it would be great to highlight how beautiful the motherland is.”

Certainly, it would be nice to see the circuit back on the calendar and there has been regular suggestions in recent times that work is being done towards that aim, with F1 expanding its schedule all the time – additions of Miami and Las Vegas underline that.

And, joining Hamilton in the calls to return to Africa, is 2021 world champion Verstappen who had this to say as quoted via the Express:

“I’d like to race in Africa. So Kyalami would be a cool addition.

Of course, the circuit needs to be safe and up to FIA standards but providing it ticks all the relevant boxes it would be great to see Africa hosting a race once more, and all that that event would entail.

F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali is regularly looking for ways to expand the calendar, so let’s see if this is the next event to be added.