Why SA could not host Formula 1 next year and the 'confidence' around 2024 inclusion

Local motorsport fans are still reeling from the news that South Africa will not be hosting a round of the Formula 1 championship in 2023. Early signs pointed to the pinnacle of motorsport returning to the Kyalami Circuit next year, but negotiations fell flat, bludgeoning any hope of a return.

The FIA, international motorsport's governing body, and FOM (Formula One Management) have published the 2023 calendar, confirming a record 24-race season and SA's exclusion. Even until the moment next year's schedule was confirmed, many F1 aficionados in SA still had hope that a miracle could happen.

So, just what went awry in SA's bidding process and can something be salvaged to stage a race in 2024?

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Guarantees weren't met

For an F1 race to happen, several parties must be involved, and guarantees - both financially and otherwise - must be met. Unfortunately for South Africa, holes were poked in the bidding bag, resulting in the negotiation process not bearing the desired fruits.

The seven parties involved in SA's bidding process were the FIA, F1, Motorsport SA (MSA), the venue provider (Kyalami Circuit), the national government (including the Department of Sport, Arts, and Culture, and the Department of Tourism), local government, and the local promoter: the SA Grand Prix Association led by Warren Scheckter.

READ: SA Government was 'not aware' of financial guarantees to make F1 return possible

Anton Roux, MSA chairman and member of the FIA Senate, confirmed to News24 Sport: "The reason the F1 event is not taking place in 2023 is that the F1-appointed local promoter was unable to deliver on the financial