- South African sports broadcaster Robert Marawa said his attendance at the FIA Awards in Kigali in December 2024 gave him an early indication of Rwanda's F1 ambitions
- Formula 1 confirmed on 13 October 2026 that Rwanda secured a 10-year agreement to bring the sport back to Africa in the early 2030s
- Marawa's post drew mixed reactions from South Africans debating the country's own Formula 1 prospects
Sports broadcaster Robert Marawa says Rwanda's Formula 1 breakthrough did not catch him off guard, pointing to his experience at the FIA Awards in Kigali in December 2024 as an early signal of what was to come.
Formula 1 confirmed on Tuesday, 13 October 2026, that Rwanda had signed a 10-year agreement to bring the sport back to Africa, with the African Grand Prix expected to feature on the calendar in the early 2030s. The race will be held on a purpose-built circuit in Bugesera, approximately 40 kilometres south of Kigali, though no construction milestones or inaugural race date have yet been announced.
Marawa reflects on Kigali FIA awards
Taking to X following the announcement, Marawa congratulated Rwanda and pointed to the December 2024 FIA Awards ceremony in Kigali as the moment his instincts were confirmed.
He wrote:
"The signs were there when I attended the FIA Awards in Kigali on the 13th December 2024....The world's top F1 drivers were all there to attend what turned out to be a stunning world-class event.The feeling was that Rwanda would definitely get it before South Africa.....Although it's NOT all lost for SA for a pre-2030 race. CONGRATULATIONS to @UrugwiroVillage"
Watch the clip below on X.
In a second post, he added simply:
"🔴 CONGRATULATIONS RWANDA!!! 🔴"
The deal marks the first time Africa will have a confirmed place on the Formula 1 calendar since the 1993 South African Grand Prix at Kyalami.
South Africans divided over the deal
Marawa's post drew a range of responses from South African users who held differing views on the development.
@TallAzzJay wrote:
"I thank God we lost the F1 bid to Rwanda. South Africa has internal issues that deserve our attention and resources before we start chasing international events. Let's get our house in order first. 🇿🇦"
@PrinceNdamase pushed back on the idea of a zero-sum outcome between the two countries:
"I still don't get why we still believe it's an either/or even with all the assurances we have that Africa, like other continents, may host more than one race! 🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦"
@CherofChairs added a broader continental perspective:
"Awesomeness, beautiful indeed. Africa is vast, with lots and more to offer; it can't always be Cape Town. There are many more beautiful places to explore on the Continent."
@Ramaano23 connected Rwanda's success to domestic governance concerns:
"Rwanda hosting f1 I great for Africa, but this just exposes the incompetence of South African leadership due to rot and corruption."
South Africa's F1 ambitions remain active
Despite Rwanda securing the deal, Marawa suggested South Africa still has a realistic shot at hosting a race before 2030. Proposals under consideration include reviving Kyalami and a planned R2 billion circuit north of Cape Town, with a consortium formerly led by Sibanye-Stillwater chief executive Neal Froneman involved in the latter project, as previously reported by Briefly News.
Source: Briefly News
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