F1 signs 10-year deal with Rwanda to host African Grand Prix

Formula 1 has signed a 10-year deal with Rwanda to host an African Grand Prix. The Rwandan government and the series announced that the first edition could be held in Kigali as early as 2030, depending on progress on the circuit. The event will officially be called the “Formula 1 African Grand Prix, presented by Visit Rwanda”.

The track, which has yet to be built, is planned for a site 40 kilometres south of Kigali, near Bugesera international airport, which is also under construction. That makes 2030 a possible date rather than a confirmed one: the timing depends on completion of the circuit. The deal was announced at a Tuesday press conference in Kigali attended by Rwandan president Paul Kagame, Formula 1 chief executive and president Stefano Domenicali, and FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

The planned return to the African continent would follow the 1993 South African Grand Prix, the last F1 race in Africa cited in connection with the agreement. Talks between Formula 1 and Rwanda gathered pace in 2024, as the country sought to attract major sporting events to support tourism and business. Last year, Kigali hosted the UCI Road World Championships; in 2024, the city also staged the FIA’s annual Prize Giving Ceremony, where Max Verstappen collected his fourth F1 world title trophy.

The Bugesera circuit was designed by former driver Alex Wurz and his design company. It is expected to make use of Kigali’s hilly terrain to create a demanding layout. The project is part of a wider Rwanda Development Board investment programme covering tourism, infrastructure and commercial development.

Stefano Domenicali called the agreement “a landmark moment for Formula 1” and said the sport was determined to return to Africa “in the right way”, with a long-term commitment. Mohammed Ben Sulayem described the move as a historic moment for motorsport and said the FIA would work with FOM and its partners to develop the circuit to the highest international standards. Lewis Hamilton has long advocated an F1 return to the African continent.