Tangier, a possible candidate to host Formula 1

The reigning sport of speed, where the greatest advances in automotive technology are put to the test by the best drivers in the world, has set its sights on Morocco. 

In a sport where differences are measured in millimetres and grams and where the strategy and skill of the drivers face the perfection of the cars, Morocco is on the list of possible new Formula 1 destinations. The FIA has offered to host a Formula 1 Grand Prix, a big step for motorsport in the North African country and a new challenge for the drivers and teams that would compete in Tangier. 

As part of the celebration of sporting events, the International Automobile Federation has considered the option of selecting Tangier as a candidate to host a Formula 1 Grand Prix in the coming years. 

To enter the world of Formula 1 is to enter a spiral of benefits at a national and local level, and also for sponsors and, above all, for spectators. Increases in visibility, audience, participation and investment are some of the benefits of hosting a Grand Prix. 

While it is true that Morocco has already hosted a Formula 1 Grand Prix, it dates back to 1958. The inclusion of Africa in sports worldwide may be one of the keys that leads this North African country to be able to host races in the coming years. On more than one occasion, Ben Sulayem, Formula 1 CEO, has expressed his interest in the representation of Africa in the continent.  

Since the arrival of the World Cup in South Africa in 2010, most of the sporting events held on the African continent have taken place in Morocco. 

The Middle East tour, key in the negotiations

In an Anglo-Saxon competition with very limited access, the rules of the game and guidelines are clear and precise, which makes Formula 1 a highly competitive and demanding sport. 

From the calendar to the clothing, Formula 1 is a sport where nothing goes unnoticed. It is quite likely, following the calendar, of a Grand Prix being held in Tangier, that we would be talking about a night race, which would further enhance the feeling of speed, but not the nervousness in the drivers, who will not be affected by the more than 2 million LED lights that must be housed in a circuit whose race is at night, as we are talking about the elite among racing drivers whose training is not comparable to that of any other sport.

As for where in the season the race could be held, there are some conditions that must be met. The first of them is that the Monaco Grand Prix must be held on the last weekend of May, that the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix must be the last Grand Prix of the season, that the Grands Prix – all of them – are held at a time when the weather conditions are suitable for the practice of the sport,  and under these conditions, the Grands Prix of Singapore, China, Brazil and Japan cannot be held in times of typhoons or hurricanes, depending on the region. 

Knowing these conditions, why can the Middle East tour be a key factor in the choice? In a global calendar, such as that of Formula 1, which, in turn, is focusing on sustainability more and more, the distance covered by the teams is one of the main tasks that, year after year, the International Federation is trying to solve. 

In a calendar that is getting tighter and tighter, the distribution of the circuits is not an easy task. In addition, with the recent investment and importance given to the circuits of the Middle East, presumably due to the main sponsor of the competition, Saudi Aramco, the incursion of Morocco as a representative of Africa is a fact that is increasingly feasible. 

What is the main stumbling block? Security. Driver safety is a critical issue in the world of motorsport. After the tragic death of Jules Bianchi in 2015 due to the accident at the 2014 Suzuka GP, and the death of Anthoine Hubert at the Spa-Francorchamps GP in 2019, it has become clear that safety is a prerequisite for any country wishing to host a race. 

In a limited calendar, where or because of who could the Tangier circuit be included? This is another drawback or obstacle that there would be. Currently, the possible Grands Prix that could  be part of a list of those to be replaced, due to a lack of renewal, would be: Italian Grand Prix at Monza (2025), Belgium Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps (2025), Monaco Grand Prix at Monaco (2025), Netherlands Grand Prix at Zandvoort (2025), Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix at Imola (2025),  Mexico Grand Prix in Hermanos Rodríguez (2025), Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai (2025), Las Vegas Grand Prix in Las Vegas (2025), Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku (2026), United States Grand Prix in Austin (2026) and Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona (2026).

The truth is that participating in the world of Formula 1 is a difficult task due to the strict regulations that must be overcome. To date, the Kyalami Grand Prix in South Africa has been the only representative of the African continent in the world of elite motorsport. In addition, this city has been the most recent one to offer itself to the International Federation to be part of the calendar, but it was rejected due to safety regulations.

Honourable mention to the only driver of African descent who has raced in the highest category of motorsport, Piers Courage, who died at the age of 28, 3 years after his debut, in the 1970 Zandvoort GP, Grand Prix that takes place this weekend where a tribute is expected to be paid to him.