Formula 1 is set to make a historic return to the African continent, with multiple sources confirming that Rwanda has secured a deal to host a Grand Prix. According to well-placed paddock insiders, the East African nation is scheduled to join the Formula 1 calendar in 2030, marking the sport’s first race in Africa since the 1993 South African Grand Prix at Kyalami.
While an official announcement from Formula One Management (FOM) is expected in the coming weeks, the agreement represents the culmination of a concerted effort by Rwandan President Paul Kagame. Having positioned his country as a hub for major international sporting events, Kagame has been in persistent, high-level talks with both FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem and F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali. These efforts gained significant momentum when Kigali hosted the 2024 FIA General Assemblies and Prize Giving Ceremony, where Kagame first publicly declared his nation’s intent to join the sport’s top tier.
Although early reports of a Rwandan bid were met with skepticism due to the absence of an existing Grade 1 circuit, those doubts have been silenced by concrete development plans. Rwanda will construct a brand-new, permanent racing facility located approximately 40 kilometers from the capital city, Kigali, in the vicinity of the under-construction Bugesera International Airport.
The circuit is set to be designed by WurzDesign, the firm led by former F1 driver Alexander Wurz. The company, which is currently collaborating with Tilke Engineering on the ambitious Qiddiya Speed Park project in Saudi Arabia, has already produced leaked layout concepts that suggest a state-of-the-art facility tailored for modern Grand Prix racing.
The move to include Rwanda is a significant milestone for the sport. For years, the absence of an African race has been a glaring gap in Formula 1’s global expansion. While countries like South Africa—specifically the Kyalami circuit and Cape Town—as well as Morocco and Nigeria, have engaged in various levels of discussion regarding a return to the continent, Rwanda’s aggressive approach and state-backed infrastructure plans have ultimately cleared the path for the deal.
The decision has been met with enthusiasm from the paddock, particularly from seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who has consistently been one of the most vocal advocates for bringing F1 back to Africa. The return to the continent has also been a stated priority for both Ben Sulayem and Domenicali, who have frequently emphasized the need for a truly global calendar.
By committing to a 2030 arrival, Formula 1 is effectively closing a chapter of absence that has spanned nearly four decades, signaling a new era of growth for the sport on the African continent. With the blueprints finalized and high-level political backing firmly in place, the countdown to Kigali has officially begun.
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