Villeneuve: Africa is a continent missing from the F1 calendar

Talking about future Formula 1 venues with the Prime Casino media team, Villeneuve emphasized the importance of diversifying race locations to enhance the global appeal and excitement of the sport. He expressed a particular interest in seeing a Formula 1 race in Africa, a continent that has been absent from the calendar for several years.

"F1 is global, more than it has ever been, and Africa is a continent that’s missing," Villeneuve stated. "So it seems logical that there should be a push to go to Africa. Where? I don’t know enough about Africa to really have a good idea of what would be good ultimately, but it is a continent that’s missing."

Africa's last Formula 1 race was held in 1993 at the Kyalami circuit in South Africa, a track that Villeneuve acknowledged would require significant upgrades to host a modern Grand Prix. Despite the logistical and political challenges, Villeneuve sees value in bringing Formula 1 back to the continent.

"I think Kyalami would need some work being done to it," he noted. "It’s also very political, where you go. F1 is expensive. You have to be careful with that."

In addition to Africa, Villeneuve proposed a race in Scandinavia, particularly in the northern regions of Sweden or Finland, where the unique phenomenon of the midnight sun could provide a spectacular backdrop.

"I would go to north Sweden and Finland in mid-summer when there’s no nighttime. Do the race at midnight under sunshine. It would be cool," Villeneuve suggested, highlighting the potential for "funky stuff" that could inject new excitement into the Formula 1 calendar.

Villeneuve also shared his broader vision for Formula 1 to venture into less traditional venues, suggesting that at least one race per year should be held in an "out there" location, even if it isn't a financially lucrative choice for the sport.

"I want to see a Grand Prix in Scandinavia or Iceland—but having one in Africa makes sense," Villeneuve said. He added, "It’d be good if once a year it would be great to have a race that moves around the planet to go to an odd place, at the cost of F1 even, to make it more international, more exciting, more fun and original, basically."

By advocating for races in both Africa and Scandinavia, Villeneuve is calling for Formula 1 to embrace its global nature and prioritize unique and diverse experiences for fans and drivers alike.