The 1993 South African Grand Prix was the last Formula One race held on the African continent, won by Alain Prost on his return from a year's absence.
Key Facts
- Race winner
- Alain Prost (Williams-Renault)
- Winning margin
- Over one minute
- Race distance
- 72 laps laps
- Sauber F1 debut
- JJ Lehto finished 5th, scoring first points
- Car number 0 used
- First time since 1973 US Grand Prix
- Edition number
- 33rd South African Grand Prix
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Defending 1992 World Champion Nigel Mansell departed Formula One for CART racing, leaving Williams without a title holder to display the number 1. Alain Prost, who had taken 1992 off, returned to join Williams-Renault for the new season, setting the stage for the championship opener at Kyalami.
On 14 March 1993, Alain Prost took pole position and led the final 49 of 72 laps at Kyalami to win the South African Grand Prix by over a minute from Ayrton Senna's McLaren-Ford. Mark Blundell completed the podium for Ligier-Renault, while the Swiss Sauber team made its Formula One debut with JJ Lehto finishing fifth.
Prost's dominant victory launched his successful 1993 championship campaign. The race also marked Sauber's entry into Formula One points scoring. As of 2026, no subsequent Formula One race has been held anywhere on the African continent, making this event historically the last of its kind.