Heineken World Tour revvs up the Mother City with rare Formula 1 fan experience.

Patrick Friesacher, driving the Red Bull Racing RB8 at the Heineken World Tour. 
PHOTO COPYRIGHT: Slipstream SA

A song famously captivated the nation in 2010 as South Africa united for the FIFA World Cup, its lyrics echoing across the airwaves, ‘Tsamina mina, eh eh. Waka waka, eh eh. Tsamina mina zangalewa. This time for Africa’. Shakira and Freshlyground couldn’t have been any more accurate. The time for Cape Town is truly now, as the sound of a V8 Formula 1 car reverberated through the Green Point precinct during the Heineken World Tour. 

The full-day fan event transformed the venue into a fully immersive Formula 1 experience, blending live entertainment, the Qatar Grand Prix watchalong, interactive fan activities, which included simulators, and a Scalextrics track. Nevertheless, the main attraction remained the on-track demonstrations from Spinning, Drifting, and Oracle Red Bull Racing.

Taking center stage at the Heineken World Tour was the 2012 Oracle Red Bull Racing RB8, driven by former Formula 1 driver Patrick Friesacher, who visited Cape Town for the first time. 

Filmed by Slipstream SA

“It’s great to hear. It’s my first time in Cape Town, so really looking forward to it. Red Bull Racing has brought the World Championship-winning car, the RB8, from Sebastian Vettel,” Friesacher said. “And, for myself, it’s always a great pleasure to drive such a car. It gives me goosebumps, especially when you fire up the car. It’s something special.”

Friesacher is no stranger to South Africa, adding: “I’ve been twice to Kyalami with the Formula 1 two-seater, but that was a long time ago. That was back in 2005 and 2006.”

The purpose of the Heineken World Tour, according to Heineken South Africa’s Marketing Communication Manager Warrick Wyngaard, is to bring Formula 1’s atmosphere directly to fans outside of traditional race weekends.

“The Heineken World Tour is a global celebration that brings the thrill, style, and sophistication of Formula 1 directly to fans around the world. It’s far more than a typical race-day experience, it’s a full-day festival of speed, music, culture, and connection,” Wyngaard said. “It transforms city streets into a dynamic, high-octane playground where fans can immerse themselves in the authentic world of Formula 1 through live entertainment, interactive fan zones, and premium Heineken experiences.” 

Fans gather as the Red Bull RB8 is fired up before the first show run.
PHOTO COPYRIGHT: Slipstream SA

Many fans in attendance cited the lack of opportunities to experience Formula 1 machinery in person as a key reason for attending the Heineken World Tour. Scuderia Ferrari supporter Grant ‘Scully’ van Schalkwyk described the event as a rare chance to engage with the sport at close range.

“So, we are at this event, purely because we don't see enough of these events in Cape Town, South Africa, and it was the first time in a very long time that we can actually get up close and personal with a Formula One car,” he said.

The sense of rarity has also reignited the long-standing discussions surrounding Formula One’s potential return to South Africa. Speaking to Slipstream SA, fans were unanimous in their desire to see the Formula One World Championship return to the country, although opinions differed on where the future Grand Prix should be hosted. 

With a very rich motorsport and Formula 1 heritage, South Africa hosted the first F1 Grand Prix in East London in 1961 before it moved to Kyalami, which went on to host a further 21 races before departing in 1993. In the years that followed, there were various bids, but momentum only increased when the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, replied to a social media comment, saying: “[..] my term will be a failure if I don’t bring one of the biggest sporting tourist events to South Africa, which is F1.” This statement sparked renewed debate, including the ideas of Cape Town Grand Prix, and the Wakanda City Grand Prix in the Eastern Cape; however, more recently, Kyalami Grand Prix circuit’s new owners confirmed that they have received FIA approval to proceed with Grade 1 status upgrades, which positions the venue as a strong candidate should Formula 1 return to South Africa. 

Simulators and a Scalextrics track were on hand for fans to enjoy. 
PHOTO COPYRIGHT: Slipstream SA

Whilst Kyalami works towards achieving FIA Grade 1 status (F1 standards), it’s worth reminding ourselves that legendary drivers, such as seven-time World Champion Michael Schumacher, Ayrton Senna, Niki Lauda, and Jim Clark, all raced at the circuit. However, a question lingers, is historical value and significance truly enough to host Formula One, in view of the fact that Cape Town has demonstrated the ability to host visually appealing, street-based motorsport events, like Speed Classic Cape Town, F1 demonstrations, and the FIA Formula E World Championship in 2022, which has left a strong impression on fans and participants alike. 

Wilhelm Wasserman, a Red Bull Racing fan, said, “I like Formula 1, but there is no alternative to seeing a Formula 1 car in South Africa currently,” which truly highlights the importance of showcase events, such as the Heineken World Tour. He was also keen to mention the success of previous races, including the FIA Formula E event in Cape Town, as proof of the country's readiness to host top-tier motorsport. “We attended the Formula E event when it was here, and we loved it,” he added.

Other fans acknowledged Kyalami’s practical advantages while still recognising Cape Town’s appeal. Miguel Neto identified Johannesburg as the logical choice, but admitted the allure of Cape Town is difficult to ignore. Riaan Zeelie was more direct, describing the city as a natural destination for global motorsport events.

“I would like to have Formula 1 in Cape Town. We know it's currently in the ranks of having it in Jo’burg. But Cape Town is such an awesome place. If you need to go anywhere, you need to come to Cape Town. Cape Town is the place to be. Even if you have to move here, by all means, we will welcome you with open arms. Please, guys, come out,” Zeelie said.

Red Bull athlete Sam Sam spinning up a storm at the Heineken World Tour.

Video Copyright: Slipstream SA

Despite the excitement that surrounded the Cape Town event, Wyngaard was careful not to draw any links between the Heineken World Tour and a potential South African Grand Prix, stating that: “Heineken has a long-standing global partnership with Formula 1 (F1), and South Africa is an incredibly important market for us. At this stage, we’re not in a position to comment on any potential future race locations or the F1 calendar in general. Any announcements regarding future events would come directly from F1, in collaboration with the relevant local authorities, when appropriate.”

The maiden Heineken World Tour has showcased South Africa’s burning desire to once again host the pinnacle of motorsport, Formula One, at the southernmost tip of Africa. Whether a return becomes reality remains to be seen, but Heineken has undeniably fueled a flame for what one day could be a reality.

Red Bull Racing roared through Cape Town as Heineken turned Green Point into a full-throttle F1 Festival

Image Credit: Junaid Samodien

Cape Town didn’t just host an event — it felt the shockwave of Formula 1 culture exploding through Green Point as the Heineken® World Tour transformed the precinct into a high-adrenaline fusion of V8 thunder, street-festival energy and world-class spectacle. With the unmistakable scream of a real F1 car echoing between the Cape Town Stadium, buildings and thousands packing the streets, the city briefly felt like it had its own Grand Prix.

Thousands of spectators lined the area for what became one of the most significant F1-themed activations South Africa has seen in years. At the heart of the action was former Formula 1 driver and long-time Red Bull Racing demo ace Patrick Friesacher, who headlined the motorsport programme with a rare and crowd-shaking appearance in the 2012 Red Bull Racing RB8.

The RB8—famous for carrying Sebastian Vettel to the 2012 World Championship—was one of the last V8-powered Formula 1 cars and remains a fan favourite for its raw sound and aggressive aerodynamics. Friesacher put on multiple high-intensity runs, lighting up Green Point with burnouts, accelerations and the unmistakable scream of the Renault RS27 V8, giving fans a visceral reminder of the sport’s pre-hybrid era. It marked one of the few times in recent years that an F1 car of that generation has run publicly on South African soil, making it a major highlight of the day.

Alongside Friesacher, Red Bull’s senior race support crew—including one of the team’s veteran mechanics (insert name)—held technical demonstrations that gave fans a close-up look at the precision, choreography and engineering excellence behind modern Formula 1 operations. For many spectators, getting within arm’s reach of a championship-winning machine was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

The event also celebrated South African motorsport flair, with local drifting favourite Samkeliso “Sam Sam” Thubane wowing the crowd with tyre-smoke theatrics and crowd-pleasing sideways showmanship.

From morning to night, the venue pulsed with energy thanks to a stacked entertainment lineup featuring Cassper Nyovest, DJ Natasa, Themba, Kamo Mphela, YoungstaCPT, the Cape Minstrels, and DJ Fresh. Immersive fan zones—including simulators, reaction games and VR experiences—turned the precinct into a hybrid of racetrack, concert arena and lifestyle hub. Veteran presenters Robert Marawa, Anele Mdoda and Scoop Makhathini kept the adrenaline flowing with their trademark charisma.

In classic Heineken® style, fans gathered at the Heineken® House to watch a live stream of the Qatar Grand Prix, transforming the venue into a festival-style viewing zone as cheers echoed through Green Point. For many, it was a rare chance to share a Grand Prix weekend in a massive, real-world community of fans.

Alexander Drake, Head of Heineken® South Africa, said the day showcased the power of Formula 1 to spark culture and connection.

“You could feel the energy from the moment the engines fired up. F1 has a unique ability to spark culture and community, and seeing Cape Town own that moment was incredible. This was a clear statement about where we’re going as a brand and what fans can expect from us,” Drake said.

A surprise hit among attendees was the appearance of Heineken’s mysterious helmeted showman, who roamed the venue with high-energy antics that quickly became a social-media favourite.

Heineken®’s approach to the Cape Town stop reflected the brand’s global philosophy of merging motorsport with lifestyle culture—an approach that has defined its F1® partnerships across the season through TV, digital campaigns, limited bottle editions and nationwide activations.

Drake says the event signals the brand’s commitment to delivering richer, more premium motorsport experiences: “Heineken® isn’t here to follow the trend. We’re here to create the moment. With F1, we’re proud to be building a brand that gives fans the world-class experiences they love.”

If anything, the Cape Town stop underscored Heineken®’s ambition to deliver world-class experiences to the South African public. The brand isn’t simply staging events — it’s cultivating a market with the appetite, culture and energy to rival major fan hubs worldwide. By merging racing heritage, premium entertainment and immersive fan engagement, Heineken® is signalling that South Africa is ready for more headline-worthy Formula 1 moments, and the brand intends to be at the centre of that growth.