16/09/2025 12:55
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has stated there are various locations
looking to bring the sport to their countries amid a strong period
of growth for the premier racing class. The schedule has been
expanded over the last several years as F1 struck deals with
various locations. This included expanding its reach in the United
States and in the Middle East, bringing the total number of grands
prix to 24 last year - a figure that has been repeated for the 2025
and 2026 campaigns. F1 has a number of long-term deals in place.
Miami, which held its inaugural race in 2022, holds the longest
agreement of any location with a contract to host the sport until
at least 2041. Other spots such as Bahrain and Australia also have
long-term security as Domenicali highlighted the importance of
tying some locations down to an extensive deal. "In the future, we
have a long list of contracts that have long-term agreements,"
Domenicali exclusively told RacingNews365 . "We want to protect the
investment that the promoter has to do, to allow everyone who is
coming to have a unique experience - of course, connected to money,
connected to big things in an area of the world where F1 is very,
very important." Article continues below. F1 has 'a lot of
alternative' locations to explore F1 has put the initial steps in
place to start rotating some venues year-on-year, with the Belgian
Grand Prix returning to the schedule every second season from 2027.
It opens the possibility for other venues to get the opportunity to
host a race, and Domenicali highlighted there is no shortage of
suitors. "We have slots in Europe that are going to open for the
rotational part of it and we have some other tracks that will have
the end of their contracts before 2030, which we are going to
discuss and have the possibility [to continue]," he said. "The good
thing is that in Europe, and you see what happened in Hungary, you
see the level [of investment]. "It shows that if you want to do it,
if you believe in our project, in our vision, people really invest
and are really looking forward to the future. "Now we really can
say the same, because we have a lot of alternatives that are on the
table, which could be very practical. "It's up to us to make the
right decision. Barcelona is interested in having that spot again
after Madrid comes in. "We have Turkey, we have Portugal, and we
have other places that are really ready to discuss." Beyond Europe,
F1 is working on returning to Africa, having last raced on the
continent in 1993. Lewis Hamilton has been a strong advocate for a
race to be held in that part of the world, with South Africa and
Rwanda among those who have confirmed their interest. "Bigger term,
bigger project, we have Africa," Domenicali said. "We have
Thailand, and we have other places." Domenicali added that "we seem
to have an interest from Germany", a country that last hosted F1
during the Covid-stricken season in 2020. While the added intrigue
from these countries means increased negotiation headaches for F1,
Domenicali asserted it shows how the sport is in a healthy place.
"So all good news, because we are really very happy to see that the
business keeps growing and keeps going in the right direction," he
stated.
