KIGALI, Rwanda — Rwanda has secured a 10-year agreement to host a Formula One Grand Prix from the early 2030s, paving the way for the sport’s return to Africa for the first time since 1993.
The agreement, announced on Tuesday, October 13, will see the Formula 1 African Grand Prix, presented by Visit Rwanda, join the championship calendar once a purpose-built circuit in Bugesera, south of the capital Kigali, has been completed.
Formula One Chief Executive Stefano Domenicali announced the deal at a press conference in Kigali attended by Rwandan President Paul Kagame and International Automobile Federation (FIA) President Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
“Today is a landmark moment for Formula One,” Domenicali said, describing Africa’s return as part of the sport’s long-term global ambitions.
The announcement ends years of uncertainty over whether Formula One would return to the continent, where it last held a Grand Prix at South Africa’s Kyalami circuit in 1993.
Formula One and the FIA confirmed the 10-year agreement in separate official announcements, although the date of the inaugural race remains dependent on the circuit’s completion.
New circuit planned near Kigali airport
The proposed Grand Prix will take place at a new circuit in Bugesera, approximately 40 kilometres south of Kigali, near the site of the new Kigali International Airport.
The venue is being designed to meet FIA Grade One standards, the highest circuit classification required to host Formula One races.
According to Formula One, the track will incorporate the area’s natural elevation changes to create a challenging racing layout. Its design is being developed through collaboration involving WurzDesign, led by former Formula One driver Alexander Wurz, and circuit engineering firm Tilke Engineers and Architects.
The circuit forms part of a broader development programme led by the Rwanda Development Board, linking motorsport with tourism, infrastructure and commercial investment.
However, construction must be completed to the required standards before the first race can take place. Formula One has indicated that the venue is expected to be ready early in the next decade, without announcing a specific opening date.
Hamilton’s campaign for an African Grand Prix
The agreement marks a major development for seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who has repeatedly called for Formula One to race in Africa.
Hamilton, now competing for Ferrari, has argued that the continent should have a place on the championship calendar as the sport expands its international reach.
Formula One’s decision to return to Africa comes after years of discussions with potential host countries and promoters. Rwanda’s bid gained momentum after Kagame publicly announced the country’s ambition to stage a race in 2024.
The sport says the agreement reflects a long-term commitment to establishing a sustainable event rather than simply adding a temporary fixture to the calendar.
Formula One has also cited Africa’s growing fan base as a reason for the return. Domenicali said the championship wanted to bring its racing closer to millions of supporters who have waited years for an event on the continent.
South Africa’s bid faces competition
Rwanda’s agreement comes as South Africa has also pursued a return to the Formula One calendar, with proposals involving Kyalami and Cape Town.
Kyalami, north of Johannesburg, last hosted a Formula One Grand Prix in 1993. The circuit remains central to South Africa’s efforts to bring the championship back, while Cape Town has also been discussed as a potential venue.
South African sports officials have continued to express interest in hosting a race. Rwanda’s deal, however, gives the East African country a formal 10-year agreement, subject to the delivery of the new circuit and associated arrangements.
Formula One’s announcement does not, by itself, establish that South Africa will never host a future race. The immediate development is that Rwanda has secured the agreement for the planned African Grand Prix.
Rwanda to become Africa’s third F1 host
Rwanda will become the third African country to host a round of the Formula One World Championship, which began in 1950.
Morocco hosted a Grand Prix at the Ain-Diab circuit near Casablanca in 1958, while South Africa staged championship races at several venues before Kyalami became the best-known host circuit.
The continent’s absence from the calendar since 1993 has persisted despite repeated calls from drivers, fans and officials for Formula One to return.
The Rwanda agreement will allow the championship to race on every inhabited continent once the event joins the calendar, further expanding its global footprint.
For Rwanda, the race is also intended to strengthen its international profile, attract visitors and investors, and create opportunities in tourism, hospitality and technical services.
Those benefits will depend on delivering the circuit and managing the costs and infrastructure required to host a major international sporting event.
For now, the 10-year agreement marks a decisive step towards restoring Africa’s place in Formula One. The next major milestone will be completing the Bugesera circuit and confirming when the continent’s first Grand Prix in more than three decades will take place.
