🚨 | 𝗡𝗘𝗪: 𝗙𝟭 𝗪𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗦 𝗥𝟮.𝟯𝗕𝗡 𝗚𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗡𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗚𝗨𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗘 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗦𝗔 𝗚𝗣 𝗕𝗜𝗗 🇿🇦 South Africa’s push for a 2028/29 F1 return is now moving into the stage where ambition has to be backed by hard financial guarantees. Gayton McKenzie says F1 wants government backing of around R2.3 billion before the country can move further towards securing a place on the calendar. 🎙️ “We are at the stage where you must come up with a guarantee from the government.” For context, that is roughly: 🔹 R2.3bn total — about R767m per year over a three-year term 🔹 ≈ $139m total — about $46.3m per year 🔹 ≈ €124m total — about €41.3m per year McKenzie has also named MTN, Betway, Discovery and Canal+ among the private-sector backers, with another major bank still to be announced. President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected at the Abu Dhabi GP on December 4, where McKenzie says he will meet F1 officials in furtherance of the bid. The picture is becoming clearer: South Africa appears to have the political will and growing commercial support, but the guarantees are now where the bid has to become financially real. [@TimesLIVE] #F1 #SouthAfricanGP #Kyalami