Rwanda secures 10-year deal to bring Formula One back to Africa

Rwanda will host Africa’s first Formula One Grand Prix in more than three decades after securing a 10-year agreement with the motorsport championship, with the inaugural race expected to take place in the early 2030s.

The agreement, announced on Tuesday, marks a major step in the East African country’s long-running campaign to bring the world’s premier motorsport competition back to the continent.

Formula One said the race would take place after the completion of a new purpose-built circuit in Bugesera, Rwanda. The proposed facility is expected to provide the venue for the country’s debut on the championship calendar.

The return will end Africa’s absence from Formula One since the 1993 South African Grand Prix, which was won by French driver Alain Prost.

The agreement is also expected to strengthen Rwanda’s efforts to establish itself as a destination for major international sporting events, using motorsport to attract tourists, encourage investment and raise its profile among global audiences.

Formula One President, Stefano Domenicali, described the agreement as a landmark development for the sport, saying the championship had been working towards a return to Africa with a long-term commitment.

“Today is a landmark moment for Formula One,” Domenicali said.

“With Rwanda joining the calendar from the next decade, our sport will race in every inhabited continent, bringing the world championship closer than ever to fans around the globe.”

He said Africa had always been part of Formula One’s future, adding that the organisation wanted to return under the right partnership and with a clear vision of creating a meaningful impact.

The 10-year deal gives Rwanda a major opportunity to establish itself within the international motorsport calendar, although the first race will depend on the completion of the proposed circuit.

Rwanda’s government has spent several years pursuing the opportunity, with President Paul Kagame formally announcing the country’s bid in December 2024, when the country hosted a gathering of the International Automobile Federation, the governing body of world motorsport.

Kagame hails historic agreement

Reacting to the deal, Kagame described it as a major achievement for Africa, arguing that the continent had waited too long for the return of Formula One.

“Today belongs to Africa,” the president said.

“For more than three decades, the world’s premier motorsport championship has raced without this continent, and that changes with this agreement.”

Kagame said the partnership was long overdue and represented a milestone not only for Rwanda but also for motorsport fans across Africa.

He expressed hope that the event would encourage the organisation of more Formula One races on the continent, rather than leaving Rwanda as Africa’s only host.

“Ultimately, what we want is for the African Grand Prix to pave the way for other races to be hosted on the continent. This is not impossible to achieve, and what we are doing proves this,” he said.

The proposed Grand Prix is part of Rwanda’s broader strategy of using sports to promote its economy and attract international attention.

The country has entered football sponsorship partnerships with major European clubs, including Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain, while also working with the National Basketball Association to make Rwanda a key hub for the Basketball Africa League.

Rwanda also hosted the cycling world championships in 2025, adding to its record of staging major sporting competitions.

The government’s approach has helped place the country in the spotlight, but its use of international sports to promote its image has also generated debate.

Human rights concerns trail Rwanda’s sports strategy

Critics have described Rwanda’s investment in major sporting events and sponsorship deals as “sports-washing”, a term used to describe attempts by governments to improve their international reputations through sport while facing allegations of human rights abuses.

Concerns have been raised over restrictions on political opposition and dissent in the country.

Supporters of Rwanda’s sporting ambitions, however, argue that criticism of the country reflects double standards in the way international sporting opportunities are assessed.

They have questioned why Rwanda’s bid has attracted such scrutiny while other countries with controversial human rights records continue to host major competitions.

The debate is likely to continue as Rwanda prepares for the substantial planning and infrastructure development required to stage a Formula One race.

Hamilton welcomes prospect of African race

The announcement is also expected to please seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who has repeatedly called for Formula One to return to Africa.

Hamilton supported Rwanda’s plans in 2024 and described the country as one of his favourite places.

The British driver has long advocated for the championship to expand its presence on the continent, which has not hosted a Formula One Grand Prix since the end of the South African race in 1993.

Rwanda’s agreement represents progress towards that ambition, although the event is not expected to take place until the early 2030s.

South Africa keeps hopes alive

South Africa had also been seeking to bring Formula One back to the country, but its sports minister, Gayton McKenzie, acknowledged last week that Rwanda had worked longer on its bid.

McKenzie made the comments in a post on X after reports emerged that Rwanda was close to securing the agreement.

He said Rwanda deserved the opportunity, while maintaining that South Africa should not be ruled out of future plans.

“Remember though that one country, Italy, has had two F1s a year, and some react like a continent of 55 countries can only get one,” McKenzie wrote.

He predicted that South Africa would eventually secure a place on the Formula One calendar, potentially before 2030.

South Africa has a long history in Formula One, with the 1993 Grand Prix marking the last time the championship raced on African soil.

Rwanda’s agreement, however, now places the country at the centre of efforts to restore the championship’s presence on the continent.

With the proposed Bugesera circuit still to be completed, attention will turn to the infrastructure and preparations needed to deliver the event. If successful, the Grand Prix could provide a major platform for Rwanda while opening the door to renewed interest in Formula One across Africa.