Jody Scheckter explains how close Formula 1 was to adding South Africa GP back to the calendar

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Former Formula 1 world champion Jody Scheckter has explained just how close Formula 1 came to approving a contract for a new Grand Prix in South Africa.

F1 hasn’t raced at Kyalami since 1993 when Alain Prost dominated all weekend and secured a pole position, fastest lap and race win for Williams.

Speaking on the Formula For Success Podcast, Jody Scheckter was sharing what he heard about the prospect of F1 returning to South Africa.

The F1 calendar seems to be rapidly changing, with the FIA announcing that the paddock will be heading to Madrid in 2026.

It raises questions about the future of the race in Barcelona which only has a contract for another three races.

After adding Miami and Las Vegas to the calendar in the last couple of years, there does seem to be a shift in the make-up of the schedule.

Expansion in the United States and the Middle East is happening quickly, but F1 won’t turn down an opportunity elsewhere if it makes financial sense.

Given there is no race in Africa right now, South Africa makes a lot of sense to host a race but Schecker has now explained why that hasn’t happened yet.

Kyalami was popular with drivers and would offer a very different challenge to the growing number of street circuits in the schedule.

However, the fact that Mark Blundell finished on the podium in 1993 a lap behind Prost is a worrying sign, although that may be down to the cars that season rather than the track itself.

Scheckter explains how South Africa missed out on Grand Prix

Speaking about a return to Kyalami, Eddie Jordan asked: “We’ve recently heard in an open report Lewis Hamilton saying that he doesn’t want to retire until the Grand Prix comes back to South Africa.

“Do you think he has long to wait?”

Scheckter replied: “I think it could have happened last year. My nephew who had spent three years talking to the government, getting everything in place and they were going to run it at Kyalami.

“Formula 1 came down there, really ready to sign it up as I understand and the guy at Kyalami said no I want this much money, I want to do this and I want to do that and the government as I understand saw the friction between them and backed away from it.

“It was that close to happening.”

Schecker and F1 fans in South Africa will hope that a resolution can be found quickly.

A report last year suggested that the South African government’s stance on international affairs may have also played a role.

Tracks around the world will be desperate to join the Formula 1 circus as it becomes more and more popular.

It remains to be seen whether F1 will return to the African continent any time soon.