Overview

• Nigeria’s government has officially appointed Opus Race Promotions, co-led by former footballer Marvin Sordell, to negotiate with Formula 1 and the FIA on its Abuja race bid.
• The proposal features a new F1-standard circuit in Abuja alongside plans for a karting track, hotels, a technology hub and a motorsport museum.
• Nigerian officials tout the race as a catalyst for tourism, infrastructure development, youth engagement and national soft power under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda.
• Thailand remains the most advanced contender for calendar expansion after securing $1.2 billion in government funding for a Bangkok street Grand Prix debuting as early as 2028.
• South Africa’s Kyalami circuit is moving ahead with FIA-mandated Grade 1 safety upgrades, keeping African locations on the shortlist within F1’s 24-race calendar cap.