After decades away from the F1 calendar, Africa is about to return to the biggest Motorsport event. A country on the African continent has invested billions in a project in the city of Tangier to be able to host the Grand Prix again.
It has been more than 30 years since Africa hosted an event, and the country promises to put the continent back on the Formula 1 map. Find out which North African country is in the running to be back on the F1 calendar and what we can expect from this great project!
The African megaproject in detail
The project announced by this North African country is ambitious and exuberant. The proposal includes the construction of a racetrack with Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) standard specifications, capable of hosting Formula 1 races, as well as events from other international categories. The chosen location is Morocco, a country with a strategic location that combines natural beauty, port infrastructure, and easy access to Europe.
Morocco is planning a huge complex, unlike anything ever seen before. It will cost US$ 1.2 billion, with public and private investment, and, in addition to the Grand Prix circuit, a theme park, shopping mall, hotels, and a marina — as the project is planned to be located 20km south of the coastal city of Tangier — are also being built.
The idea is that the site can receive tourists for visits throughout the year, not just during Formula 1 events. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2025, and the idea is for it to be ready by 2027 to host the Grand Prix. The African country expects this to boost the local economy, with an estimated 10,000 new jobs created.
The importance of F1 in Africa and Morocco
The return of Formula 1 competitions to the African continent has been a long-standing demand, not only from fans of the sport, but also from the organization and executives behind it, such as Stefano Domenicali, CEO of F1, and Eric Boullier, former boss of McLaren and Lotus — also the man behind this major project in Morocco. The event currently takes place on every continent around the world, except Africa. For this reason, countries have been sparing no effort to attract the attention of the FIA.
South Africa was one of the first countries on the African continent to be considered, but due to bureaucratic and financial issues, it was prevented from hosting F1 events. Another location that was also considered is Rwanda. At the end of last year, President Paul Kagame offered the country an official bid to host Formula 1 events during an FIA awards ceremony that took place in the capital of Rwanda.
The African continent and its people have always been deeply connected to sport. Casablanca in Morocco, for example, was the only place in Africa to officially host a Grand Prix in 1958. With this new project, the country is looking forward to the return of Formula 1, grandly and permanently.
Economic, social, and tourist impact of hosting the F1 in Morocco
Although the project is designed to host a Formula 1 event, its impact on Morocco and the whole of Africa will be huge and will go far beyond attracting visibility from fans of the sport. A venue of this magnitude will be an economic transformation, positioning the country as a tourist and innovation hub for the entire world.
Bringing F1 back to Africa isn’t just exciting news for racing fans — it’s a powerful moment for the entire continent, marking a new chapter in its journey to shine on the global sports and economic stage. In a few years, we’re going to see Formula 1 cars racing through the African country, and it’s going to be incredible.
