"South Africa lived up to the hype": Alexander Albon reflects on a memorable visit.

Alexander Albon on stage at the Betway and Atlassian Williams F1 team VIP experience.
PHOTO CREDIT: Betway and Jackpot City

A few hours were all it took for Alexander Albon to leave a lasting impression on South African Formula 1 fans. His visit to the country was more than just a promotional appearance – it offered thousands a rare chance to meet one of the sport's current drivers, strengthening the growing sense that Formula 1's connection with Africa may be gathering real momentum.

The Atlassian Williams Racing driver arrived in Johannesburg fresh from the Hungarian Grand Prix, marking the culmination of a month-long roadshow that saw a Williams FW48-liveried show car tour shopping centres in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg. The nationwide display attracted thousands of curious onlookers and passionate fans, giving them a rare opportunity to experience a piece of Formula 1 up close and personal.

Beyond its fan engagement, the event also marked a significant moment in Williams F1 history. More than three decades ago, the team celebrated victory in the final South African Grand Prix at Kyalami with Alain Prost, before returning regularly to the circuit for testing until 2001. Since then, Williams had not made another official appearance in South Africa, making Albon's visit a notable milestone in the team's long history with the country.

For Albon, however, the defining memory of the trip was not the packed schedule or commitments. It was the reception he received from South African fans.

"South Africa lived up to the hype – the fans here are as passionate as it gets. Meeting everyone who followed the FW48 roadshow, chatting with local creators, and sitting down with Neal made this a brilliant trip. Thank you to Super Group, Betway and Jackpot City for making it happen!" he said.

Although Formula 1's popularity has surged in recent years due to the Drive to Survive series and the F1 Movie, Albon had not anticipated the level of excitement surrounding the team's arrival in South Africa.

"It's really eye-opening, to be honest with you," he said. "For the most part, we are kind of in our own circus. We go from race to race, we go to the same countries, the same racetracks, year to year, so we know the tracks, we know the fans, we know which tracks have more fans, less fans. But just the announcement and the noise that we were getting through our social media on coming to South Africa, it was like nothing we've ever seen before, and it was really amazing to see the reception that Formula One was getting. Even on the flight here, the team was feeding me all this information, and I didn't appreciate just what connection Williams had to South Africa."

The trip also uncovered an unexpected personal connection that even the Williams driver did not know. Whilst discussing his arrival in South Africa with his parents, Albon learnt that he had actually spent part of his childhood living in Hyde Park, Johannesburg while his father was conducting business.

"It's a really weird story," Albon said. "So, when I was six months old, my family moved to Johannesburg, and obviously, I came with them. We lived here for a year and a half."

The story became even more remarkable when his mother reminded him that their family had lived next door to the current South African President Cyril Ramaphosa – someone whom Albon met during his visit.

Beyond giving fans a rare opportunity to connect with the team, the visit also offered a chance to pull back the curtain on life inside Formula 1, challenging many assumptions that people may have about the sport's drivers. For millions watching around the world, Formula 1 often appears to be a life of glamour, luxury and constant excitement. Albon was quick to dispel that perception.

"Oh, I would say that we're the opposite of that. We're pretty boring people for the most part," he admitted. "I grew up on a farm. My hobbies are pretty much staying at home, sitting on a sofa, watching Netflix. If you catch me, a normal Monday for me looks like nothing. Just walking around the city and going for a coffee."

The high intensity of a race weekend often creates a desire for simplicity once drivers step away from the circuit. What many fans never see is the amount of preparation required before a single lap is completed.

Kriya Gangiah hosting Alex Albon for a brief Q&A. 
PHOTO CREDIT: Betway and Jackpot City.

A modern Formula 1 weekend extends far beyond just driving, since hours are spent in engineering briefings, simulator sessions, strategy discussions and technical meetings, with drivers playing a central role in many aspects of performance.

"We have engineering meetings, we have strategy meetings, we have meetings with aerodynamicists, we talk about winds, weather, what tyres we want to be on, what driving style we want to do, how to manage the brakes, the engine, the oil," Albon explained. "So, there's a lot of these kinds of things."

Even the seemingly routine radio messages heard during races often carry far more meaning than fans realize. When asked about Formula 1's famous "box, box" pit call, Albon smiled: "Yeah, actually we rarely say, box, box." 

Though some teams do, while others often rely on coded messages, hidden confirmations, and carefully planned misdirection to prevent rival teams from gaining valuable strategic information. 

In the modern era of Formula 1, information can often be just as valuable as outright speed. Yet perhaps the most fascinating insight Albon offered was not about strategy or engineering, but about the journey required simply to reach Formula 1.

While fans naturally focus on the 22 drivers on the grid, earning one of those seats remains among the most difficult achievements in sport. The financial demands are enormous, opportunities are scarce, and success throughout junior categories provides no guarantee of reaching Formula 1.

"There are 22 seats in Formula One. The competition to get into Formula One is extremely difficult," Albon said.

For many aspiring drivers, the challenge begins years before Formula 3 or Formula 2. Careers often depend as much on securing sponsorship and finding opportunities as they do on outright talent.

Albon understands that reality better than most. Unlike several of his colleagues, reaching Formula 1 was never straightforward. There were moments when it appeared his opportunity had disappeared altogether. Then, unexpectedly, everything changed.

That opportunity arose when Albon was preparing for what he believed would be the next chapter of his career outside Formula 1. Rather than waiting for an F1 seat, he had already begun planning for a future in Formula E. Then, late in the year, his phone rang while he was browsing inside a Nike store. It was a call that changed his career forever.

"I got a phone call from, at the time, it was the boss of Red Bull, and I thought, oh, I should answer this. It was basically, we are looking for a driver for Formula One," Albon recalled.

The timing could hardly have been more unexpected. By then, he had already accepted that his future lay elsewhere. "I already thought I was going to do something else. I already had planned a different series,” he said.

Then came the question every young racing driver dreams of hearing. "By the way, do you want to be in Formula One?" For Albon, there was only one answer: yes.

The opportunity came so late that he entered Formula 1 with far less preparation than many of his rivals. That lack of experience became apparent during his very first Formula 1 test, just weeks before making his Grand Prix debut, when he spun into the gravel on his opening lap. It was a humbling introduction to the sport, because, as he climbed out of the medical car, dozens of photographers were already waiting to capture the moment.

"I thought to myself, oh my god, you know, this is what Formula One is," he said.

Ironically, adapting to the car itself proved easier than adapting to everything that surrounded it. Having raced since childhood, driving at the limit felt natural.

"It's funny because we're so conditioned to racing that, as I said, I started when I was eight years old, and it's all I ever knew. So, driving the F1 car for me was the easiest thing to transition into," Albon explained.

The bigger challenges, however, came from outside the cockpit, where he suddenly found himself under constant media scrutiny while representing one of F1’s biggest sporting teams. 

"I went from a team that had maybe 15 people inside it in Formula 2, to 1,100 people," he said.

Today, that responsibility has grown even further, as Atlassian Williams F1 Team continues its long-term rebuilding project under the leadership of James Vowles. With his knowledge and feedback at the wheel, Alex Albon has become a key figure in helping guide the team back towards competitiveness and, ultimately, victories.

That broader rebuilding effort extends well beyond the race track. The Betway and Atlassian Williams F1 roadshow reflected Williams' commitment to reconnecting with fans by taking Formula 1 directly to them through city activations around the world, rather than limiting engagement to race weekends. In doing so, the team has recognized that some of the championship's fastest-growing audiences exist far beyond the traditional European calendar.

Neil Menashe speaking with Alex Albon on stage. 
PHOTO CREDIT: Betway and Jackpot City

South Africa was no exception. The month-long campaign concluded with Albon appearing alongside Super Group CEO Neal Menashe, who believes the partnership between Williams, Betway and Jackpot City represents more than conventional sponsorship.

"Bringing Alex Albon and the Atlassian Williams F1 Team to South Africa has been a fantastic opportunity to connect one of the world's most iconic sports with the passion of South African fans," Menashe said. "Through Betway and Jackpot City, we are proud to create experiences that bring people closer to the action, and to help bring the excitement of Formula 1 beyond the racetrack and into local communities."

Menashe explained that Williams' relentless pursuit of marginal gains, technological innovation and operational excellence closely mirrors the environment in which Super Group operates. 

For decades, South Africa has awaited Formula 1's return, with the Kyalami Grand Prix circuit at the centre of hopes to welcome the championship back to African soil. Ongoing FIA Grade 1 circuit upgrades, coupled with growing political support and increasing commercial backing, have kept those ambitions alive, ensuring the country remains firmly in discussions surrounding a future Grand Prix.

The 30-year-old admitted he was surprised to learn just how few Formula 1 fans ever experience a Grand Prix in person.

"There was a statistic that blew me away, that it was something like 1% of fans have access to actually watching a Formula 1 race in real life," he said. "It's such a minority that actually experience what at least I see in the grandstands every weekend. It does seem like there is... it feels almost inevitable. It feels like there is a buzz going on that it's going to happen soon."

Among the guests at the VIP experience was Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie, who has emerged as one of the leading political voices behind efforts to bring Formula 1 back to South Africa.

McKenzie openly stated on X that his tenure would be a failure if he did not succeed in bringing one of the world's biggest sporting events back to the country. He has also publicly announced Betway, SuperSport/Canal+, Discovery and MTN as key private-sector partners supporting the initiative.

The Minister also revealed that seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Sir Lewis Hamilton is expected to visit South Africa in the near future, but stopped short of disclosing the purpose of the visit or offering any further details.

Alexander Albon on route to the stage.
PHOTO CREDIT: Betway and Jackpot City

Before departing, Albon offered one final message to the fans who had welcomed him so warmly.

"You have seen a taster of what we do. I think there is still a lot of work to be done; of course, there is a lot of work being done to make a Grand Prix happen here,” he said. "It's an amazing sport. It's a sport I have been part of for a long time, and I hope you guys can experience more of it. Hopefully, this race does come to your home country. And hopefully, we can put on a good show for you guys once it does happen."

Whether that moment arrives remains to be seen. But if Alex Albon's visit proved anything, it’s that South Africans from all walks of life are ready to welcome Formula 1 back with open arms.

From Childhood Fascination to Lifelong Passion: A Fan’s Hope for Formula 1’s Return to South Africa.

David Coulthard lapping the Kyalami Grand Prix circuit in the Red Bull RB7.
PHOTO CREDIT: Red Bull Content Pool

It was a sunny summer's afternoon when a little boy, playing with his toy ambulance, and police cars, re-enacted a police chase that he had seen on television, with his sirens blaring, a high-pitched sound off in the distance briefly caught his attention, but he continued playing. As the sound persisted, it piqued his interest, so much so, that he picked up his toy cars, and took slow steps to investigate where this sound was coming from. He isolated the sound to the living room, and with every step, the sound got louder and louder.

Turning the corner, and entering the living room, he looked at his father. No, Dad’s not making that loud noise! He then turned towards the television that his father had been watching. He then saw something that he'd never seen before, unusual-looking cars. Cars that looked nothing like his ambulance and police car. What were these strange-looking cars, he thought, as they swept through corners at incredible speeds? 

So, fascinated by what he had seen, he sat on the ground before his father and began to watch along. Looking at his father with a level of curiosity, as one car caught his attention—a red car. He asked, "Dad, what is that red car?" His father replied, "That’s a Ferrari." It was a name he had never heard before. He bombarded his father with questions—who, what, where, when, why, and how—trying to understand the sport his father enjoyed every weekend.

After the race, he rushed to his room and re-enacted what he had seen on television. His cars once limited to cops and rescue scenarios, now screamed around an imaginary track, much to the annoyance of his family and neighbors.

As the next race weekend approached, his father asked, "Son, would you like to watch the next Formula One race?" He immediately stood up and shouted, "Yes!" It’s safe to say, his flame for Formula 1 was ignited.

Over time, his passion for Formula One grew to a point where missing a single Grand Prix was never an option. Formula One effectively became life for him, but the realization of ever attending a Formula One Grand Prix on South African soil was an ever-distant dream.

Having conducted further research, he learned that, South Africa last hosted a Formula One Grand Prix in 1993 at the Kyalami Grand Prix circuit, but the championship has never returned. So, to follow the sport, he’d have to watch every race on the national television broadcaster, the SABC (free-to-air), but things soon changed in the late 2000s when Formula One moved to pay-TV service, MultiChoice. A year, that proved quite tough for him. How would he be able to watch the sport that he was so passionate about? Could he continue to feed his hunger for F1? These questions were soon answered when the SABC aired delayed broadcasts of the Formula One Grand Prix at 11pm on Sunday evenings, which he stayed up for and enjoyed, but later resorted to watching these Grand Prix with his uncle and dad, as at the time, it was not feasible to subscribe to MultiChoice and stay up late on a school evening. But nothing could break his passion. He searched libraries for books on F1 and even asked neighbors for the latest newspapers to gather as much information as possible.

A collection of the Cape Times season booklets.

One afternoon, he discovered that the Cape Times newspaper published a season guide booklet with handy information on teams and broadcast times. It became somewhat of a hobby, to collect every season’s booklet. But, sadly, after the 2016 season, those booklets were no longer published. And, as time evolved, to continue watching Formula One, his father had to subscribe to DStv. 

His hero is seven-time F1 world champion Michael Schumacher.
PHOTO CREDIT: Scuderia Ferrari 

He could not wait to get home from school to read more about Formula One, and one day, to his surprise, he received a school presentation assignment, titled “My hero?” which, he was so excited about, and instantly knew who he’d use as his hero. A driver, who to him, was an unstoppable force, Michael Schumacher. Finally, he could speak about something, he was so passionate about. His fellow classmates chose footballers, and so on. But, nothing could stop him from presenting about his Ferrari hero. He stood with confidence in front of the classroom, handing out leaflets and images, about F1 and Ferrari. He never felt so confident before and as soon as the presentation started, he was stopped for exceeding his allotted time. A week later, he was informed that he received an A+ for the presentation, one could say that his passion achieved greatness just like his hero.  

One afternoon flicking through the local newspaper, he found an interesting article, that announced that the South African Grand Prix Corporation (Pty) Ltd intended to bid to build a Formula One race circuit near Cape Town's International Airport at an estimated cost of R1 billion ($137.8 million). His excitement soared, and he tracked any updates. 

Then he heard on Good Hope FM (radio station) that Red Bull Racing was bringing a Formula 1 car to Cape Town for a Showrun at Killarney International Raceway. Overwhelmed with excitement, he checked his season guide and saw a scheduling conflict with the Australian Grand Prix. Torn between watching the race and attending the Showrun, he formulated an argument to convince his father that both were possible. Skeptically, his father agreed to the plan. He woke up early to watch the Grand Prix, which Sebastian Vettel won. And, shortly, after 10am, he, his father, and sister set off to the Killarney Raceway, with only one thing on his mind, and that was seeing a Formula One car in the flesh. 

Upon arrival, he was awestruck, seeing the Red Bull posters at every turn. He couldn’t contain his excitement, so much so, that he immediately opened the car door before it stopped. He walked with such a pace that nothing or no one could distract him from seeing the Red Bull RB7. Entering the pit building, he navigated through a crowd of people, made his way to the front railing, and finally laid eyes on a Formula 1 car. He couldn’t believe his eyes, pinching himself. No, this is real, he thought! The team mechanics worked on the car and also engaged with the audience showing off the steering wheel, and talking them through the processes of warming up a Formula 1 car. Overwhelmed, he captured as many photos and videos as possible. It was an afternoon, that left a gigantic smile on his face—his dream of seeing an F1 car in person had come true.

Neel Jani driving the Red Bull Racing RB7 out of the pit garage at Killarney Raceway.

The sound of the V8 engine lingered in his mind for days. He imagined what 20 of these cars would sound like racing in South Africa. Then, news broke that the Cape Town Grand Prix SA (CTGPSA) intended to host Formula One in the city’s Green Point precinct. His excitement was immeasurable, but he also knew it would be a massive undertaking.

For him, living in Cape Town, with the prospects of a Grand Prix just a few minutes drive away, filled him with a glimmer of hope, but as the days and months passed, it became evident that these talks stalled. 

As time evolved, he turned to social media for the latest Formula 1 updates, as it proved to be the quickest medium to gain access to news, teams, and drivers. He began to engage with like-minded F1 fans, and a few years down the line, he met, an icon of Formula 1 in South Africa, Sasha Martinengo, a man who not only hosted Absolute F1 but also anchored the pre-and-post race coverage in South Africa. 

Martinengo’s knowledge of the sport impressed him when on Ballz Visual Radio, presenter Disi Fensham, formulated a question-and-answer session, which he answered with absolute certainty. Not a single answer was incorrect. Something that he thought was so impressive. 

Knowledge is power, and he continued to learn, more and more about Formula One consuming as much content as he could.

Then came the crushing blow: The Kyalami Grand Prix circuit was up for auction. He learned that a property developer intended to purchase the circuit and demolish its history. But, news soon broke that Porsche South Africa’s CEO Toby Venter saved the circuit. Thank You, Toby, he whispered! 

The Kyalami Grand Prix circuit after the 2015 upgrades.

Under new ownership, the Kyalami Grand Prix circuit underwent extensive facility upgrades in May 2015, and upon completion achieved FIA Grade 2 certification. An exciting, moment because South Africa could finally host some international championships, like the FIA World Endurance Championship, and the Intercontinental GT Challenge. 

His excitement was reignited when talks to bring Formula 1 back to South Africa in 2023 surfaced. Glued to social media, in the hope, he’d see any updates, he learned that F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and his delegation visited Kyalami, which to him signaled serious discussions. However, for various reasons, the deal fell through, and once again, the dream was dashed.

In the hope that he’d somehow find out how close South Africa actually came to hosting Formula 1, he discovered a blog post on Slipstream SA, where MSA Chairperson and FIA Senate Member Anton Roux revealed that a deal “was incredibly close. I think everything was agreed.” 

So close, and yet so far. But, hopefully, someday it could be a reality. Becoming more involved with Formula 1, he began to receive the latest news via e-mail, and noticed an interesting subject line ‘the Soweto Grand Prix’. He opened his laptop to learn that there was a new bid. But, upon further investigation, it seemed somewhat distant, because, like the Cape Town Grand Prix bid, roads would have to be upgraded, etc. as it would be a street circuit. 

As Formula One’s popularity began to grow, more and more countries placed bids to host the premier racing series, but none of them were in Africa. So, he hoped that one day, Africa or South Africa, could finally return to the calendar. 

In 2024, the newly elected coalition government, named ‘the Government of National Unity’, appointed a new Sport, Arts, and Culture Minister. The new Minister, Gayton McKenzie was quick to grab the attention of all motorsport fans when he replied to a question about Formula 1 in South Africa on social media platform X (formally known as Twitter), to which, he replied: "[…] my term will be a failure if I don’t bring one of the biggest sporting tourist events to South Africa which is F1."

During the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend, Minister Gayton McKenzie took to X sharing that he had meetings with both Stefano Domencali and FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, saying: "Just completed a very important meeting with Stefano Domenicali, Formula One Group CEO. We are one step closer to bringing it to South Africa."

The Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie with Panyaza Lesufi (Premier of Gauteng) with Toby Venter, CEO of Kyalami Grand Prix circuit (outside right) and Willie Venter (left alongside McKenzie).
PHOTO CREDIT: Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit.

With the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture eager to bring Formula One back to South Africa, the now all-grown-up kid’s hopes and beliefs were restored, as more and more people began to talk about the reality of Formula 1 in South Africa. 

A few weeks after the Minister’s social media remarks, a new Formula 1 bid came to the fore, "the Wakanda City Grand Prix”, which stated that “the centerpiece of the future smart city in the Eastern Cape. Styled on the likes of Dubai, Singapore, and Monaco, Wakanda will be developed on an idyllic 20,000-hectare beachfront site near Sunday’s River. The idea is to have Ferrari and Safari-themed parks, Hollywood and Disney-type movie studios, and a marina lagoon resort in typical African style."

To him, the prospect of a new purpose-built circuit in South Africa was such a thrilling idea, but as much as it sounds incredible, could it actually be a reality? He had his doubts!

The Sport, Arts and Culture Minister created so much hype in the country, as he attended various sporting and motorsport events, where he was asked about Formula One returning to South Africa. And, at a spinning event, he spoke to Lallies F1 and said: “I can tell you this, F1 is definitely coming (to South Africa). F1 told us they’re keen to come, they told us what they’ll need to come, and we are going to give them what they need to come.” He went on further to add that “there’s still a big fight at the moment. Is it Cape Town, or is it Joburg? That decision has not been taken.”

With a Minister hungry to bring Formula One back to South Africa, he asked himself the question. Should he believe the Minister? Because making a statement, versus reality is often quite far apart. His response was: ‘Yes because the Minister is a passionate motorsport fan like I am.’

Further bold steps came when the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie announced the formation of a Bid Steering Committee (BSC) to oversee and select a promoter, city, and track for a formal F1 bid.

Amid this, the CEO of the Kyalami Grand Prix circuit, Toby Venter revealed that the 4,522-kilometre circuit will undergo upgrades to achieve FIA Grade 1 certification, allowing it to host F1 races. "By the end of 2025, Kyalami will be F1 certified," Venter said.

Following on from the appointment of the BSC, the Cape Town Grand Prix SA (CTGPSA) announced the revival of their bid to host Formula One in the Green Point Sport Tourism Precinct, in Cape Town. 

Scrolling through social media, he saw that there was a hive of articles, about which South African city should host Formula One, quite an exciting thought. Further news reached him, that Minister McKenzie announced an extension to the submission deadline for the Request for Expression of Interest (RFEQI) for interested parties in South Africa’s Formula 1 Grand Prix bidding process from 31 January 2025 to 18 March 2025. 

A few days later, he learned that the Minister went on the record with Bloomberg.com, stating that South Africa plans to submit its bid in May (2025) to host Formula 1 as early as 2027 and that he has also spoken to potential sponsors to help raise $50 million to fund the bid.

With a Ministerial-backed initiative, a dedicated bid committee, and Kyalami’s FIA certification on the horizon, hope is stronger than ever. Was South Africa finally on the brink of hosting Formula One after over 30 years? For the boy who grew up with a passion for the sport, the dream never faded. And now, more than ever, it feels within reach.