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Ex-Formula 1 race winner Giancarlo Fisichella is supervising the technical aspects of a proposed F1 circuit in Zanzibar, as the
Located off the East Coast of Africa, Zanzibar and its Investment Promotion Authority (ZIPA) invested €500 million into the GP project in May 2023. The Executive Director of ZIPA allocated a 2.5 km2 area of land on the southwest part of the island on November 28 of the previous year. The project, led by founder Cristian Bortolato and COO Enrico Sartini, enlisted the help of Fisichella to oversee the development of the track, which is expected to begin construction in spring 2025 and be completed by the end of 2027. While the funds are significant, further investment will be required to obtain the necessary FIA Grade One license to host an F1 race in Zanzibar. F1 has not visited Africa since the 1993 South African Grand Prix, but there is now interest in bringing the sport to the continent, with Lewis Hamilton expressing his desire to have a race in Africa. F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has also expressed interest in expanding into Africa, and FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem supports the idea as well. The possibility of adding an African Grand Prix would require careful management of the F1 calendar, which is already expanding rapidly. Nonetheless, with several circuit contracts set to expire soon, there is potential for Africa to find its place in F1 if all parties involved are eager to make it happen.
