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F1 Cancels South Africa 2024 Grand Prix Due to Country's Ties with Russia: Reports

© AP Photo / THEMBA HADEBEFormer Formula One Grand Prix driver Derek Warwick, drives past spectators during a street race in Johannesburg, South Africa, Thursday, Nov. 10, 2005, ahead of their veterans race Sunday.
Former Formula One Grand Prix driver Derek Warwick, drives past spectators during a street race in Johannesburg, South Africa, Thursday, Nov. 10, 2005, ahead of their veterans race Sunday.  - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 06.06.2023
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In recent years, there has been much talk of a return to the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit in South Africa for the first time since 1993, with Greg Maffei, CEO of Liberty Media Corporation, the owner of the Formula One Group, announcing a race on the African continent for the current season.
The Formula One (F1) management has abandoned the idea of returning to the calendar at South Africa's Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit for political reasons, the Racing News 365 portal reported on Tuesday, citing sources.
A return to the Kyalami circuit near the city of Johannesburg has been highly anticipated among the F1 community in recent years, as Formula 1 representatives have been in talks on holding a grand prix in the country since 2022. Rumors suggested the South African Grand Prix would have replaced the Belgian Grand Prix, whose contract expires after the current season.
The circuit near Johannesburg was due to return to the F1 calendar after a 30-year absence, but as the decision has now been postponed, the chances of the Belgian Grand Prix, which is held at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, remaining on the championship calendar in 2024 are increasing.

The reason for not hosting the South African Grand Prix is said to be the country's neutral stance on the Ukraine conflict and alleged close ties with the Russian Federation, as both Pretoria and Moscow are members of the BRICS bloc, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

The last South African Grand Prix was held in 1993 at the 4.529 km Kyalami circuit in Midrand, Gauteng Province.
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African Countries Understand Well What Russia Is Doing in Ukraine, Russian Foreign Ministry Says
In February 2022, Formula 1 strongly condemned Russia's military operation in Ukraine, canceled the Russian Grand Prix held at the circuit in Sochi, and terminated contracts for future races.
The International Automobile Federation (FIA), the governing body for Formula 1, prohibited all Russian and Belarusian teams from participating in its competitions, while Russian and Belarusian drivers were allowed to enter races only under a neutral status and after signing a document condemning the military operation.
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