Christopher Aleo, the CEO of iSwiss bank, has been identified as one of the key financiers behind plans for a Formula 1 race in Africa.
According to Corriere dello Sport, the 38-year-old Italian attended the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last weekend, sparking speculation about his involvement in an African GP bid.
Rumours suggest Aleo is exploring potential venues in South Africa, Nigeria, Zanzibar, Rwanda, or Eswatini. While no specific location has been confirmed, Aleo's influence appears tied to his connections with royal families across the United Arab Emirates.
"I cannot declare now which African nation we are working with," Aleo said. "But I believe that we will soon have an African GP. It is a continent with strong social and economic growth, which deserves an economic booster of this type."
Aleo was accompanied in Abu Dhabi by his girlfriend Simona Jakstaite, who is also iSwiss bank's creative director and a descendant of one of Lithuania's major industrial families.