Doha – Morocco is positioning itself to join the race for hosting Formula 1 in Africa with an ambitious $1.2 billion project near Tangier. According to RacingNews365, a Formula 1 news outlet, the planned development would be located 20 kilometers south of the coastal city.
The project includes a Grade 1 circuit capable of hosting F1, WEC, and MotoGP events. It would also feature a theme park, shopping mall, hotels, and a marina.
An estimated 10,000 jobs could be created by the development. Private investment of $800 million has already been secured for the initiative, with hopes that the remaining funds would follow if approved at the highest levels of Moroccan government.
Former McLaren and Lotus team principal Eric Boullier is spearheading the project. “We went there to do a feasibility study to assess the potential of one day Formula 1 racing in Morocco,” Boullier told RacingNews365. “We found the spot they selected met all the criteria, and from that point, we built the project.”
Boullier describes the development as “a mini-Abu Dhabi” that would create “a completely independent ecosystem” based on tourism. The site’s proximity to Europe is considered a significant advantage. The industrial port of Tanger Med, located 45 kilometers northeast of Tangiers, is accessible by a short journey from the Spanish port of Algeciras.
This accessibility would allow F1 teams to construct their motorhomes in the paddock rather than work from temporary structures during a grand prix weekend. “It’s a strategic project for the country, a very serious project, which needs to have the approval at the highest level,” Boullier explained.
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali recently stated he was in talks with three African countries about hosting a race. South Africa and Rwanda have been previously mentioned as potential hosts. Boullier believes the Moroccan project “would be a better fit” than either of the other two contenders.
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If approved, Boullier anticipates the bulk of construction, particularly the F1 track, would be completed within three years. “It would make sense to hold F1 there, making it the pinnacle of the year, but with an ecosystem created to survive all year,” he added.
The development comes as Morocco seeks to end Formula 1’s 32-year absence from Africa. The last F1 race on the continent was held at South Africa’s Kyalami circuit in 1993. Morocco itself has not hosted F1 in 67 years.
This is not the first time such reports have surfaced. The Spanish outlet Atalayar had already talked about Morocco’s F1 ambitions last August, noting the economic benefits of hosting a Grand Prix with its estimated 1.2 billion viewers and potential tourism boost.
At the time, Spain expressed concerns about Morocco’s F1 ambitions. Iberian media outlets worry that if Tangier’s bid succeeds, it could jeopardize the future of the Spanish Grand Prix at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, which has yet to secure a contract extension beyond 2026.
Tangier’s potential inclusion in the F1 calendar would mark another step in Morocco’s growing influence in international sports. The country has launched ambitious campaigns to attract major sporting events, including its bid to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup final in a proposed mega-stadium in Casablanca.
