Formula E and FIA set for long-term contract extension
Formula E, majority owned since last year by telecoms company Liberty Global, started out in 2014 with a 25-year licence.
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem let slip to reporters during last weekend's British Formula One Grand Prix that an extension to the Formula E contract was done and "would come up soon".
Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds told Reuters on Friday ahead of the season's penultimate round in Berlin there was nothing official.
He said, however, to expect announcements at the London season-ender this month.
Formula One is starting a new engine era next year with a 50/50 split between combustion and electric, but Ben Sulayem has said the Liberty Media-owned sport could go back to noisy V8 engines by 2029.
"If they (F1) choose to keep using it (the 2026 engine), we'll choose to keep talking about the fact that they like the (electric) technology so much they integrate it into their race cars," said Dodds.
"If they choose to go back to V8s we would absolutely leverage the fact that we would be the only electric championship and everything that means."
McLaren exit
Formula E is likely to be reduced to 10 teams, from 11 at present, next season after the withdrawal of Formula One champions McLaren to focus on endurance racing.
McLaren had sought a new owner for the team but Dodds said the timeframe was too tight for interested parties and it would revert to Formula E, barring a late twist.
"As it stands unless something changes, and I never say never in Formula E or motorsport, their last race would be London," he said.
"The team slot would vacate, which means the licence would revert to us, and then we have a lot of other interest in joining the championship.
"The chance of somebody joining for one year of Gen3 is unlikely but the chance of somebody coming in and starting to develop with a future coming in for Gen4 is much more likely."
Formula E will be in the last year of its Gen3 era next season, with the more powerful and faster Gen4 car coming in for 2026/27.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Citizen
2 days ago
- The Citizen
'Don't laugh', F1 is coming to South Africa, McKenzie reiterates
South Africa has taken one step closer to hosting an F1 Grand Prix. David Coulthard performs during the filming of Racing Around Kyalami in Johannesburg, South Africa on October 4, 2024. Picture: Red Bull Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie has reiterated that there's progress in bringing Formula One (F1) back to South Africa This will delight many fans, including the writer, who has to contend with tuning into paid TV on weekends to satisfy the pangs of an F1 adrenaline rush. McKenzie shared an update about the progress on the high-octane sport after presenting the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture's budget vote in parliament on Tuesday. South Africa took one step closer to hosting an F1 Grand Prix. But Kyalami Grand Prix circuit owner Toby Venter painted a grim picture and put a damper on celebrations, citing a lack of commitment from government. F1 is coming However, McKenzie expressed a different sentiment after presenting his budget vote. He said South Africa will have a Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) approved track sooner than expected. 'They [FIA] have given us three years to finish the track. But I can tell you, it's breaking news. It will take us four months to finish the track to that standard. People say it's three years, three years is what they've given us to go and get the money and to do the plans that they have approved. 'But I can tell you that a company, which is called Apex; they've also done the Miami track, they've already been paid the money. So the Toby Venter group, the Kyalami group, is paid, and the track will be between four and six months. I think the track will be done, and we will have a FIA-approved F1 track,' McKenzie said. Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie has reiterated that there's progress in bringing Formula One (F1) back to South Africa @TheCitizen_News — 𝙵𝚊𝚒𝚣𝚎𝚕 𝙿𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚕 ⚡️ (@FaizelPatel143) July 16, 2025 ALSO READ: Kyalami or Cape Town? Race to host SA F1 Grand Prix revs up Kyalami British-based company Apex Circuit Design was last year tasked with drawing up the plans for upgrades Kyalami need to achieve the required Grade 1 status to host F1 racing. The grading is determined by the kilogramme-to-horsepower ratio. The ratio of F1 cars is the lowest of any motorsport class and therefore requires the highest FIA certification. In June, Venter announced that the FIA had approved the proposed upgrades Kyalami required to host a F1 race for the first time since 1993 and had been granted a three-year window to comply. He was confident that the upgrades, for which the circuit would foot the bill – estimated to be between R90 million and R180 million and set to take three months – could be completed before the end of the year. While Kyalami is the favourite to host an F1 race, other local bids are expected to come from Cape Town and Wakanda Smart City. Rwanda has also expressed its intention of being the first to bring F1 back to Africa. ALSO READ: REVIEW: Lego's Speed Champions F1, an adrenaline build No jokes McKenzie said people thought he was joking when he said F1 would return to the country. 'Many laughed when I uttered the words, 'Formula One must come back to South Africa'. One man in particular who didn't laugh was Toby Venter, the owner of the Kyalami racetrack, McKenzie said. 'When I told him that government doesn't have the money to host Formula One because of other more urgent priorities, and we would not be in a position to help him pay for the track to reach F1 standards, he looked me in the eye and said he would see it would be his patriotic duty to do just that. 'That was a year ago. I stand here to tell you that the FIA, the FIFA of motorsport, has given the green light for the upgrading of the track,' McKenzie said. Affordability McKenzie added that his department has had multiple meetings with F1 management, with a crucial one scheduled for the next two weeks. 'To those who say the country can't afford to host the F1, I'm saying the country can't afford not to. When you set the bar high for a country, as we have in the past, you can't afford to take the bar back down. 'We hosted the best FIFA World Cup. We put our country on the map for big events and should not turn back now. What will be different this time, though, is that government will not be expected to pay. Companies like MTN, MultiChoice, Heineken and many more have raised their hands and said, 'here we are, Thuma Rona'. They will be present with us in the meeting with Formula One at the end of the month,' McKenzie said. F1 is important McKenzie added that they have also met with other businessmen. 'We've even had patriots like Johann Rupert who've told us, 'Scream for help if all else fails'. So we know we will succeed. 'Those who are saying Formula One is not important should consider all the countries that are holding on to their F1 spots on the calendar. They see the value in it, and it can't be called a world championship if it misses an entire continent, sub-Saharan Africa in particular,' McKenzie said. Spinning McKenzie also thanked people who joined the department in its mission to grow the sport of spinning. 'I want to thank Red Bull and Cell C in particular. People were laughing when we said we're going to make spinning big, but already this sport has left the townships and now Sam Sam is wowing the likes of Max Verstappen with his skills in Austria'. 'The Kyalami Grand Prix circuit in Midrand, north of Johannesburg, hosted 21 Grands Prix from 1967 to 1993. 'Its list of winners includes Niki Lauda, Alain Prost, Jim Clark and our very own Jody Scheckter.' ALSO READ: F1 in SA will be 'catalyst' for uplifting motorsport, McKenzie says

IOL News
2 days ago
- IOL News
F1 return to Africa: Kyalami nears green light as key meeting looms
Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie has vowed to bring Formula 1 back to South Africa, revealing in Parliament that a crucial meeting with F1 leadership will take place within two weeks. Photo: Backpagepix Image: Backpagepix Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie has told Parliament that a critical meeting regarding the fate of Formula One on the African continent is set to take place within the fortnight. McKenzie was presenting his department's R6.3 billion budget before Parliament when he made the remarks. During his presentation, the Minister noted that Kyalami had received FIA approval to begin upgrades aimed at achieving Grade 1 status in line with Formula 1 specifications. Last month, Kyalami Circuit in Johannesburg was given the green light by the FIA to upgrade the racetrack, which is currently classified as Grade 2. The proposed upgrades focus on enhancing the run-off areas, barrier systems, debris fencing, kerbs, and drainage systems. Toby Venter, owner of Kyalami and driving force behind the project, is privately funding the multi-million Rand improvements. However, the FIA has yet to give either South Africa or Rwanda the official nod to host the 2027 Grand Prix — raising the possibility that Venter's investment could be in vain. Still, both McKenzie and Venter appear undeterred in their ambition to return F1 to the continent. Kyalami is only one of two circuits in Africa to have hosted a F1 race, with its most recent GP taking place in 1993. That race was graced by none other than Ayrton Senna, who drove his iconic V12 McLaren on the Johannesburg track. He finished second that year behind another legend Alain Prost of France. More than three decades on, McKenzie believes the time is right for South Africa to return to the F1 calendar. 'Many people laughed when I uttered the words, 'Formula 1 must come back to South Africa'. One man who didn't laugh was Toby Venter, the owner of Kyalami racetrack,' McKenzie told Parliament. 'When I told him that the government doesn't have the money to host Formula 1 — because of other, more urgent priorities — and that we would not be able to help him pay for the track to reach F1 standards, he looked me in the eye and said he would see it as his patriotic duty to do just that. 'We have had multiple meetings with the management of F1, with a crucial one happening in the next two weeks.' McKenzie also hinted at corporate support from companies such as MTN and Heineken, but it remains unclear whether the upcoming meeting he referred to is the one in which the FIA will decide which African country secures the 2027 race. Despite scepticism in some quarters, the minister insisted there was immense value in hosting a South African GP again. He argued that without a stop in sub-Saharan Africa, the F1 world championship could not truly claim to be global. To ensure the upgrades meet the highest international standards, Venter has enlisted UK-based Apex Circuit Design. Its founder, Clive Bowen, said Kyalami only needed a 'light touch-up' to reach world-class motorsport specifications.

TimesLIVE
2 days ago
- TimesLIVE
Gayton McKenzie names potential sponsors for South African F1 Grand Prix
Sport, arts and culture minister Gayton McKenzie has given the strongest indication yet that the country may be close to securing a round of the Formula One championship at Kyalami. Speaking to parliament on Tuesday, he said after meetings with the management of F1, the 'crucial one' would happen in the next two weeks and would be attended by potential sponsors ready to fund the event, which reputedly costs about R2bn. Expected to take place in 2027, it would be the first F1 race to be held in South Africa since 1993, a grand prix won by Alain Prost in a Williams. McKenzie's comments come after Kyalami was recently given the green light for upgrades by the FIA, the organisation that runs F1 racing. Kyalami owner Toby Venter revealed last month the FIA had accepted final design proposals to upgrade the 4.5km circuit from Grade 2 to Grade 1 status, the international standard required to host Formula One racing. The upgrade requires no change to the circuit layout and focuses on enhancing run-off areas, barrier systems, debris fencing, kerbs and drainage. 'When we hosted the Fifa World Cup, we put our country on the map to host big events, and we should not turn back now,' McKenzie told parliament on Tuesday. 'What will be different this time is that government will not be expected to pay. Companies such as MTN, MultiChoice, Heineken and many more have raised their hands and will be present with us in the meeting with Formula One management at the end of the month. 'We've even had patriots saying whenever you need help come to us, one of them being the richest man in the country, Johann Rupert.' In December McKenzie set up an F1 bid steering committee to consider submissions from local promoters and three were received: one from Kyalami and two from Cape Town. While no official announcement has been made about which bid was successful, it is all but certain that Kyalami, which hosted its first F1 race in 1967 and has long held a prominent place in local motorsport, is the preferred option. Several attempts to bring the Grand Prix back to the country were thwarted due to the high cost of hosting the event. As a motorsport fan, McKenzie has campaigned for the country to be on the F1 calendar since his appointment as sports minister in July 2024. He said F1 can't be considered a world championship if it misses an entire continent. Morocco and South Africa have hosted world championship grands prix in the past, Casablanca in 1958, South Africa in East London in the 1960s and Kyalami 20 times between 1967 and 1993. McKenzie kick-started the process when he met Formula One CEO Stefano Domenicali at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in September. He said many laughed when he said Formula One should come back to South Africa. 'To those who say the country can't afford to host the F1, I'm saying the country can't afford not to host it,' he said, referring to the economic benefits he believed the event could bring in terms of tourism and temporary job creation. It is not known how much tickets would cost, but they are likely to be expensive. The cheapest adult ticket at this year's Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne was about R2,000.