Formula 1 to return to Africa as 10-year deal for Rwanda race signed

Formula 1 will return to Africa after it was confirmed Rwanda will host races from the early 2030s.

A 10-year agreement has been signed for the African Grand Prix, presented by Visit Rwanda, to mark the sport's return to the continent for the first time since the 1993 South African Grand Prix.

The first race in the country is set to take place once the new purpose-built circuit in Bugesera, 40 kilometres south of capital city Kigali, has been completed, which Formula 1 said is "expected to be early in the next decade".

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Rwanda president Paul Kagame, who announced the agreement at a ceremony in Kigali on Tuesday morning, said: "Today belongs to Africa. For more than three decades, the world's premier motorsport championship has raced without this continent.

"Rwanda is proud to host the Formula 1 African Grand Prix, and to share this moment with more than 100 million fans across Africa."

Rwanda formally announced their bid in December 2024, when the country hosted an FIA gathering.

FIA president Mohamed Ben Sulayem hailed the agreement as "an historic moment for the sport".

"This is an important step in the continued global growth of motorsport," he said. "Rwanda has demonstrated a strong commitment to delivering a world-class event.

"This is also about creating a lasting legacy, inspiring new generations, developing talent and opening new opportunities for motorsport across Africa and beyond."

With Rwanda joining the calendar from the next decade, it will mean F1 will race in every inhabited continent.

Formula 1 president Stefano Domenicali added: "Africa has always been part of Formula 1's future, and from the beginning we were determined to return in the right way, with the right partner, a long-term commitment and a clear vision for creating meaningful impact."

Formula 1 added that "further details regarding the inaugural race date, circuit development milestones and race
weekend plans will be announced in due course".

'The most beautiful continent'

Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has been pushing hard over the last few years for the continent to return to the F1 schedule.

Ahead of last weekend's Singapore Grand Prix, he said: "It is, for me, the most important continent, to be honest, the most beautiful continent. We're on all the other continents but that one and there should be no reason for it."

Hamilton has repeatedly publicly encouraged Domenicali to prioritise adding a race in Africa, and the seven-time world champion is pleased with the Italian's efforts.

"It is something I've been pushing for in the background, and Stefano has been amazing," Hamilton added.

"He's flown to Africa so many times over the last couple of years, speaking to lots and lots of different people, so I hope that he has some news for me soon."

Formula 1 already has a packed 24-race schedule confirmed for 2027, but the hosting deals of several of the circuits on next year's calendar expire before 2030.

Portugal is returning as a host in 2027 but has just a two-year deal, while races in Mexico and Singapore are only currently agreed until 2028, and the Japanese Grand Prix is only confirmed until 2029.

Formula 1 next heads to The Americas for another triple-header with the United States Grand Prix in Austin up first on October 23-25, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime