Formula 1 will return to Africa for the first time in more than three decades after Rwanda secures an agreement to host the Formula 1 African Grand Prix.
Formula 1 announced the agreement on Tuesday, October 13, confirming that the race will join the calendar in the early 2030s. The event, officially named the Formula 1 African Grand Prix, presented by Visit Rwanda, will take place after Rwanda completes a new purpose-built circuit in Bugesera, approximately 40 kilometres south of Kigali.
The announcement marks Formula 1’s first planned return to the African continent since the 1993 South African Grand Prix at Kyalami.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame welcomed the agreement as a milestone for Africa, saying the continent had waited decades to host the championship again.
“Today belongs to Africa. For more than three decades, the world’s premier motorsport championship has raced without this continent, and that changes with this agreement,” Kagame said in remarks during the official announcement.
He said Rwanda was proud to host the race and share the moment with more than 100 million Formula 1 fans across Africa.
Kagame also stressed the importance of creating opportunities for young people to participate in the sport beyond watching races.
He said young Africans deserved to see themselves represented “as engineers, technicians, entrepreneurs and, one day, drivers.”
“This 10-year partnership is also an investment in Rwanda’s future,” he said.
“The circuit in Bugesera, alongside the new international airport, will bring jobs, skills, tourism and new business to our country and our region for decades to come, because our aim was never a single race weekend, but a lasting benefit for our people.”
Formula 1 President and Chief Executive Officer Stefano Domenicali described the agreement as a significant moment for the championship.
“Today is a landmark moment for Formula 1,” Domenicali said.
He explained that Rwanda’s addition to the calendar would allow the championship to race on every inhabited continent.
“Africa has always been part of Formula 1’s future, and from the beginning we were determined to return in the right way, with the right partner, a long-term commitment and a clear vision for creating meaningful impact,” he said.
Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) President Mohammed Ben Sulayem also welcomed the agreement, describing the return as “a historic moment for our sport.”
He said the project would create opportunities to develop motorsport talent and inspire new generations across Africa and beyond.
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has also advocated for Formula 1 to return to Africa. Speaking ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix, Hamilton said: “It is, for me, the most important continent, to be honest, the most beautiful continent. We’re on all the other continents but that one and there should be no reason for it.”
Hamilton has repeatedly urged the sport’s leadership to prioritise an African race.
Kenyan motorsport podcaster Winnie, who hosts The Wheel Spin F1 Podcast, attended the launch alongside other Formula 1 podcasters and commentators from across the continent. Their presence highlighted the growing community of African voices covering the sport as Rwanda prepares to welcome the championship.
Rwanda plans to build the circuit in Bugesera, near the new Kigali International Airport. Formula 1 said developers would design the track to meet FIA Grade 1 standards, the certification required to host a Formula 1 Grand Prix.
