Formula 1 has officially announced a landmark 10-year agreement to bring the World Championship back to Africa, designating Rwanda as the host of the African Grand Prix starting in the “early 2030s.”
The event will take place at a new purpose-built Grade 1 circuit in Bugesera, located near Kigali. This historic deal marks F1’s long-awaited return to the continent for the first time since the 1993 South African Grand Prix.
F1 President Stefano Domenicali hailed the move as a “landmark moment” that ensures the sport races across every inhabited continent. Rwandan President Paul Kagame stated, “Today belongs to Africa,” emphasising that the decade-long partnership will drive regional tourism, skills development, and economic growth.
The announcement also fulfils a long-held passion project for seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who has relentlessly advocated for an African race.
While the venue expands Rwanda’s ambitious global sports diplomacy portfolio, the high-profile deal is expected to draw scrutiny regarding the country’s human rights record.
