F1 in secret talks over first Africa race in 30 years in new location after Lewis Hamilton comments as ex-Kyalami hero hails move
Former Formula 1 driver Mark Blundell has backed Lewis Hamilton in calling for the sport's return to Africa.
Brit hero Blundell beat Michael Schumacher to finish on the podium the last time F1 raced on the 'Mother Continent' 31 years ago.
He memorably beat out English compatriots Damon Hill, Johnny Herbert, and Martin Brundle at the 1993 South African Grand Prix.
The 58-year-old joined icons Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost, who won seven world titles between them, on the podium at Kyalami.
F1 hasn't returned to Africa since, despite boasting a record 24-race calendar across five continents on the 2024 calendar.
There are nine Grands Prix in Europe, eight in Asia, six in the Americas, and one in Australasia - but the world's second-largest, oldest inhabited and second-most-populous continent remains conspicuous by its absence.
F1 president Stefano Domenicali came close to finalising a deal for the return of a race in South Africa in 2022.
However, doubts over the funding behind the project to bring the Kyalami circuit up to modern standards saw talks fall through.
Speaking exclusively to talkSPORT.com, on behalf of AceOdds, Blundell said: “I really would love to see the old Kyalami configuration back because it was an epic circuit.