“Everything’s there. The writings on the wall, but if it’s gonna happen, I think we’ll be huge fans and would be very happy to come here.”
Those were the words of Atlassian Williams Formula 1 Driver Alex Albon in an interview with eNCA during his recent visit to South Africa.
Albon landed in Johannesburg after completing the Hungarian Grand Prix over the weekend. His visit follows a month-long roadshow of the Williams FW48 show car in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg.
Fun Fact: @alex_albon used to live in Hyde Park in Gauteng with his parents🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦😎😎😎😎 pic.twitter.com/GFnBracl5J
— Gayton McKenzie (@GaytonMcK) July 27, 2026
Atlassian Williams F1 Driver Alex Albon and his team are in South Africa. It is part of efforts to bring Formula 1 and Williams closer to one of its most passionate fan bases. The visit is part of a month-long roadshow across Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg. This is the first… pic.twitter.com/wC98dRr1br
— eNCA (@eNCA) July 27, 2026
He met with the Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie as well as President Cyril Ramaphosa, and in his conversation learnt that the President enjoys the sport.
While they both enjoy the sport, he also shared the same street with the President many years ago. During a press engagement, Albon shared that his family lived in Hyde Park when he was younger, and that his mother recently told him that they were neighbours of the President.
The most insane coincidence 🙈🔥🇿🇦🤛 pic.twitter.com/kDstzX43E0
— Gayton McKenzie (@GaytonMcK) July 27, 2026
Earlier this year, Minister McKenzie reiterated plans to have a grand prix hosted in South Africa, having promised to host it at the Kyalami circuit in Johannesburg in 2027.
That timeline has since shifted to 2029, but McKenzie maintains that F1 “is going to happen” in the country.
“Another area where progress has been made is South Africa’s ambition to return to the F1 calendar. We have now secured the most important thing, which is the guarantee, the money. We secured the money for F1,” he said during a briefing in March.
In the meantime, however, Formula 1 is on a summer break, with drivers, including Albon, due to hit the circuit in the Netherlands for the Dutch GP from 21 August.
Great meeting F1 Driver Alex Albon and the Atlassian Williams F1 team earlier today. South Africa remains the preferred premier destination for world-class sporting events. pic.twitter.com/qBdhBMuxhj
— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) July 27, 2026
