Africa's New F1 Fans Demand a Race on the Continent

A growing community of Formula 1 (F1) enthusiasts in Africa is eager to see a race on their own continent. Despite being the only continent without an F1 race, Africa has seen a significant surge in F1 interest, with a new generation of fans emerging.

Joy Jeptoo, a 24-year-old social media influencer from Kenya, spent thousands of dollars to attend F1 races in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi last year. She compares her passion to football fans who travel to support their teams and explore new countries. 

Joy is part of Kenya's largest F1 community, Paddock Experience, which has made attending races a yearly custom, with fans spending over $2,500 to see a single event.

Africa's F1 fans attribute the surge in interest to the Netflix effect, with the docuseries Drive to Survive introducing the sport to a broader audience. 

Kamal Onyedikachukwu, a Nigerian F1 enthusiast, believes technology has also played a crucial role, with live races now accessible through F1 TV and the Motorsport channel on DStv.

F1-viewing parties have become popular, with quizzes, free drinks, and prize giveaways enticing fans to gather and watch races together. 

In Nairobi, Ms Jeptoo is often hired by entertainment venues to host F1 parties and draw in fans who can spend generously on food and drinks during races.

Female fans are also on the rise, with women like Baaba Jenkins and Queendela Adu-Poku, who run the popular F1 podcast Hairpins and Straights, taking an active role in the sport. 

Despite encountering hostility and prejudice from some male fans, they are determined to share their love for F1 and grow African representation in the sport.

While Africa has not hosted an official F1 race in over three decades, fans and drivers like Lewis Hamilton are advocating for its return. The Kyalami circuit in South Africa is seen as a prime venue, but negotiations collapsed in 2022 due to political tensions. 

Toby Venter, head of the OT Venter group, which owns the Kyalami circuit, believes F1 is "not a true world championship without Africa."

With a growing fan base and a strong desire for a race on the continent, Africa's F1 enthusiasts are hopeful that their dream will soon become a reality. As Mbalu Makau of Paddock Experience says, "If F1 came to Africa, it would be packed. You would have the whole of Africa moving to that country to support F1."