Minister of Sports, Arts, and Culture Gayton McKenzie has made his prediction on who he beleives will finish in the Top 3 for the 2025 Formula One season. McKenzie has backed Lewis Hamilton and the rest of the Tifosi for the upcoming season, believing Ferrari will add another title to their illustrious record.
For the first time in his career, Hamilton will race in the colours of the Scuderia. The first race of the season is on Sunday at Albert Park in Melbourne, at the Australian GP. Lando Norris and McLaren are the early favourites to win the race.
"You didn't win!" 😅
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 13, 2025
Carlos can't let us forget his victory in @ScuderiaFerrari red at last year's Australian Grand Prix 🙌#F1 #AusGP pic.twitter.com/NxqYIkVlCH
“Hamilton will win, Max Verstappen second, and Norris third. I was always supporting Mercedes, but now I am supporting Ferrari,” McKenzie told Independent Media on Thursday, via his spokesperson, when predicting his season winners.
Since taking office, McKenzie has been vocal about his intentions to develop South Africa’s motorsports landscape, primarily throwing himself into the world of spinning. One of his biggest moves since assuming the role has been sitting down with F1 and the FIA to lobby for a race on South African soil.
In December last year, McKenzie announced a Bid Steering Committee tasked with overseeing applicants interested in hosting the race. These applicants consist of private businesses working together with provincial governments. The tender was open to both foreign and domestic interests.
The committee is chaired by the Patriotic Alliance’s Bakang Lethoko and is composed of legal, media, business, and motoring professionals. These include the likes of MultiChoice CEO Rendani Ramovha, Anton Roux (senate member at the FIA and chair of Motorsport South Africa), and Thabile Ngwato, CEO and co-founder of Newzroom Afrika.
Just completed a very important meeting with Stefano Domenicali, Formula One Group CEO. We are one step closer to bringing it to South Africa. I wanna thank Minister of Youth & Sport of Azerbaijan, HE Farid Gayibov for arranging this meeting and hosting me. GNU at work Ntate 🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/7l7WGJqvU6
Gauteng and the Western Cape have both expressed interest in hosting the event. The Free State’s Phakisa Raceway was also touted as a possible venue.
Kyalami, in Midrand, appears to be the most feasible and realistic option for hosting the race, with owner Toby Venter assuring that the track would undergo extensive upgrades to meet the FIA’s safety regulations.
On the West Coast, Cape Town Grand Prix SA (CTGPSA) believes it can pull off South Africa’s first race in nearly two decades. CTGPSA is proposing a 5.7 km street race around the Cape Town Stadium precinct in Green Point.
On the west coast, Cape Town Grand Prix SA (CTGPSA) believe they can pull off South Africa’s first race in around two decades. CTGPSA is proposing a 5.7km street race around the Cape Town Stadium precinct in Green Point.