Formula One will return to Africa for the first time in four decades following the announcement of the African Grand Prix.
The race will take place in Rwanda from the “early 2030s”, joining the calendar on a ten-year deal.
The exact year of the first Grand Prix is subject to the date of completion of a brand new purpose-built circuit in Bugesera, 40 kilometres south of the country’s capital, Kigali.
Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of F1, said: “Today is a landmark day for Formula 1.
“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 from around the globe.”
F1 last raced on the continent of Africa in 1993, when Alain Prost won the final <a href="https://absafricatv.com/australia-close-in-on-durban-test-victory-south-africa-need-319-runs-on-final-day/" title="Australia close in on Durban Test victory, South Africa need 319 runs on final day”>South African Grand Prix at Kyalami for Williams.
The popular circuit was long touted as the most likely host of any future Grand Prix in Africa, but in recent years Rwanda emerged as the leading contender as the country pushes to establish itself as a global sporting hub.
The central African country held the FIFA Congress in 2023, cycling’s UCI Road World Championships in 2025, and the FIA’s own prizegiving ceremony in 2024.
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has been a leading advocate of F1 returning to Africa and has spent the last decade lobbying F1’s management to arrange a race on the continent.
At the Australian Grand Prix earlier this year, Hamilton was asked where specifically in Africa he would like to see an event. The Brit mooted Rwanda as a leading possibility, describing the country as “spectacular” and “a place where I could live”.
The Ferrari driver has said he dreams of racing in Africa before he retires, but will be at least 45 by the time of the first African Grand Prix.
