Rwanda secures 10-year deal to bring F1 back to Africa [photos/Courtesy]
Rwanda will host a Formula One Grand Prix from the early 2030s, marking the sport’s return to Africa after more than three decades.
The race will be held on a purpose-built circuit in Bugesera, southeast of the capital Kigali, under a 10-year agreement announced by Formula One on Tuesday.
According to Reuters and Associated Press reports, the new track is expected to be ready in the early part of the next decade, although an exact date for the inaugural race has not been announced.
The last time Formula One held a race on the continent was in 1993, when South Africa hosted the Grand Prix at Kyalami, near Johannesburg.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame welcomed the announcement, describing it as a milestone for the continent and African motorsport fans.
Speaking at an event in Kigali, Kagame expressed hope that securing the race would open the door for more Formula One events across Africa.
The announcement also fulfils a long-standing ambition of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who has repeatedly called for the sport to return to Africa.
The 41-year-old British driver, the only Black driver in Formula One, has previously said he had been working behind the scenes for years to make an African Grand Prix a reality.
Formula One president and chief executive Stefano Domenicali said Rwanda’s inclusion would enable the championship to race on every inhabited continent.
“Today is a landmark moment for Formula 1,” Domenicali said, emphasising the sport’s commitment to a long-term partnership with Rwanda.
He added that the return to Africa had always been part of Formula One’s ambitions, with organisers seeking to establish the race through a sustainable partnership and a clear vision for its impact.
Rwanda has increasingly turned to international sporting events to raise its global profile and attract visitors and investment.
The country hosted the 2025 UCI Road World Championships, becoming the first African nation to stage the competition.
The Formula One agreement is another major addition to its international sporting calendar, placing the country among destinations seeking to attract the world’s biggest sporting events.