The short answer: not officially. Yet. But the whispers are getting louder and with F1 looking to expand into new markets, it\u2019s not a pipe dream. South Africa last hosted an F1 Grand Prix in 1993 at Kyalami and ever since, local fans have been left waiting, watching and wondering: when is F1 coming to South Africa?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now, let\u2019s break it down \u2013 Joburg vs Cape Town.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Joburg: The OG of F1 in South Africa<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Formula](\"https:\/\/travelstartmu.wpenginepowered.com\/zablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/10\/F1-Blog-3.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nJohannesburg<\/a> is a world class city that is no stranger to hosting the F1 but the question stands: Will Johannesburg host the F1 again?<\/p>\n\n\n\nPros:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nKyalami Race Track is F1-ready<\/strong> \u2013 With a proper racing pedigree, Kyalami has hosted F1 before. It knows the drill. The track was revamped in 2015 and meets FIA Grade 2 standards \u2013 just one upgrade away from F1 approval. <\/p>\n\n\n\nIt\u2019s motorsport central<\/strong> \u2013 Joburg has a massive motorsport fanbase, with Kyalami regularly hosting major events like the Intercontinental GT Challenge. It wouldn’t be a stretch to fill the stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHigh-altitude drama<\/strong> \u2013 At nearly 1,700m above sea level, engines (and drivers) would be pushed to their limits. Think Mexico City levels of chaos.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhile you hope for F1 to come to Johannesburg, how about you go to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix<\/a>? <\/p>\n\n\n\nCons:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nTraffic. Loadshedding. Taxis.<\/strong> \u2013 If you think dodging Max Verstappen in a Red Bull is tough, wait until Charles Leclerc tries to navigate Winnie Mandela Drive in rush hour. Plus, SA taxis don\u2019t do pit stops \u2013 they just stop. Anywhere (you can\u2019t control the true kings of the road).<\/p>\n\n\n\nOur beautiful potholes<\/strong> \u2013 Kyalami might be F1 ready but the rest of Joburg is beautifully adorned with potholes that would give our international visitors an unexpected bumpy ride. But why should we hide our pores? They should embrace our city as it is, right? <\/p>\n\n\n\nWater and lights roulette<\/strong> \u2013 For some odd reason, no two parts of Johannesburg can have these two necessities at once. It is a very odd, once in a blue moon, occurrence for all of Joburg to have both water and electricity at the same time. But I think we can behave ourselves till the visitors leave, don\u2019t you think?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nCape Town: The New Kid on the Grid<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Formula](\"https:\/\/travelstartmu.wpenginepowered.com\/zablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/10\/F1-Blog-2-1.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nEnter the best city in the world 2025<\/a>, Cape Town is the girl she thinks she is. The city version of Miss Universe!<\/p>\n\n\n\nPros:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nScenic AF<\/strong> \u2013 Let\u2019s be real, an F1 track with Table Mountain as a backdrop? Instant iconic status, any day of the week!<\/p>\n\n\n\nTourism magnet<\/strong> \u2013 Cape Town<\/a> is a global destination. An F1 Grand Prix here would skyrocket travel and revenue, turning the city into an even bigger tourist trap (in a good way).<\/p>\n\n\n\nStreet race potential<\/strong> \u2013 Imagine an F1 street circuit winding through the city, past the Waterfront, Green Point, and back towards Killarney Motor Racing Complex. It would be chaos \u2013 but the good kind.<\/p>\n\n\n\nYou would look good at the grand stands in Miami. Get an F1 Package now<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\nCons:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nKillarney needs a serious glow-up<\/strong> \u2013 The Killarney Motor Racing Complex is legendary, but it\u2019s not F1-ready. Massive upgrades would be needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWind. Wind. More wind.<\/strong> \u2013 Cape Town\u2019s south-easterly wind is no joke. F1 cars are built for speed, not sudden gusts of 50km\/h that send them into the Atlantic.<\/p>\n\n\n\nLogistical nightmare<\/strong> \u2013 Closing down a major chunk of the city for a street race would make Joburg\u2019s traffic look like a minor inconvenience.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSo, Who Wins?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nHonestly, both cities have their strengths and weaknesses. Joburg has the history, the altitude challenge, and a track that’s almost race-ready. Cape Town has the aesthetics, tourism power, and street circuit potential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But let\u2019s be real \u2013 at this point, we\u2019ll take F1 in SA anywhere<\/em>. Just give us those roaring engines, tyre screeches, and podium champagne showers.<\/p>\n\n\n\nNo matter where the F1 in South Africa will be hosted you can get R500 off your flight when you upgrade to Travelstart+<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nJohannesburg<\/a> is a world class city that is no stranger to hosting the F1 but the question stands: Will Johannesburg host the F1 again?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kyalami Race Track is F1-ready<\/strong> \u2013 With a proper racing pedigree, Kyalami has hosted F1 before. It knows the drill. The track was revamped in 2015 and meets FIA Grade 2 standards \u2013 just one upgrade away from F1 approval. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s motorsport central<\/strong> \u2013 Joburg has a massive motorsport fanbase, with Kyalami regularly hosting major events like the Intercontinental GT Challenge. It wouldn’t be a stretch to fill the stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n High-altitude drama<\/strong> \u2013 At nearly 1,700m above sea level, engines (and drivers) would be pushed to their limits. Think Mexico City levels of chaos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While you hope for F1 to come to Johannesburg, how about you go to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix<\/a>? <\/p>\n\n\n\n Traffic. Loadshedding. Taxis.<\/strong> \u2013 If you think dodging Max Verstappen in a Red Bull is tough, wait until Charles Leclerc tries to navigate Winnie Mandela Drive in rush hour. Plus, SA taxis don\u2019t do pit stops \u2013 they just stop. Anywhere (you can\u2019t control the true kings of the road).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our beautiful potholes<\/strong> \u2013 Kyalami might be F1 ready but the rest of Joburg is beautifully adorned with potholes that would give our international visitors an unexpected bumpy ride. But why should we hide our pores? They should embrace our city as it is, right? <\/p>\n\n\n\n Water and lights roulette<\/strong> \u2013 For some odd reason, no two parts of Johannesburg can have these two necessities at once. It is a very odd, once in a blue moon, occurrence for all of Joburg to have both water and electricity at the same time. But I think we can behave ourselves till the visitors leave, don\u2019t you think?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Enter the best city in the world 2025<\/a>, Cape Town is the girl she thinks she is. The city version of Miss Universe!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Scenic AF<\/strong> \u2013 Let\u2019s be real, an F1 track with Table Mountain as a backdrop? Instant iconic status, any day of the week!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tourism magnet<\/strong> \u2013 Cape Town<\/a> is a global destination. An F1 Grand Prix here would skyrocket travel and revenue, turning the city into an even bigger tourist trap (in a good way).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Street race potential<\/strong> \u2013 Imagine an F1 street circuit winding through the city, past the Waterfront, Green Point, and back towards Killarney Motor Racing Complex. It would be chaos \u2013 but the good kind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You would look good at the grand stands in Miami. Get an F1 Package now<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Killarney needs a serious glow-up<\/strong> \u2013 The Killarney Motor Racing Complex is legendary, but it\u2019s not F1-ready. Massive upgrades would be needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wind. Wind. More wind.<\/strong> \u2013 Cape Town\u2019s south-easterly wind is no joke. F1 cars are built for speed, not sudden gusts of 50km\/h that send them into the Atlantic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Logistical nightmare<\/strong> \u2013 Closing down a major chunk of the city for a street race would make Joburg\u2019s traffic look like a minor inconvenience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Honestly, both cities have their strengths and weaknesses. Joburg has the history, the altitude challenge, and a track that’s almost race-ready. Cape Town has the aesthetics, tourism power, and street circuit potential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But let\u2019s be real \u2013 at this point, we\u2019ll take F1 in SA anywhere<\/em>. Just give us those roaring engines, tyre screeches, and podium champagne showers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No matter where the F1 in South Africa will be hosted you can get R500 off your flight when you upgrade to Travelstart+<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nPros:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Cons:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nCape Town: The New Kid on the Grid<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nPros:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Cons:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
So, Who Wins?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Formula](\"https:\/\/travelstartmu.wpenginepowered.com\/zablog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/10\/F1-Blog-4.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n