Rwanda Will Host Africa's First Formula One Race in Over 30 Years

Rwanda will host Africa's first Formula One Grand Prix since 1993 in the early 2030s. This follows a 10-year deal signed between the circuit and the East African nation on Tuesday.

Rwanda has been hoping for a Grand Prix for years. The country has used sports like football and basketball to improve its image and attract investment.

President Paul Kagame announced the bid during a gathering of the FIA in December 2024. The last F1 race in Africa was the South African Grand Prix, which Alain Prost won 33 years ago.

The first African Grand Prix in Rwanda will happen once a new circuit in Bugesera is completed, according to F1’s statement.

F1 president Stefano Domenicali called it a landmark moment for the sport. He said, "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 around the globe."

He added, "Africa has always been part of Formula One'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."

Rwanda is a landlocked country often linked with the tragic genocide of 1994. However, it has used sports to change its image, attract tourists and impress investors with how it organizes events.

The country has spent big on football sponsorships with clubs like Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain. It has also partnered with the NBA to be the main hub for its African basketball league and hosted last year's cycling world championships.

"Today belongs to Africa," Kagame said. "For more than three decades, the world’s premier motorsport championship has raced without this continent, and that changes with this agreement."

He continued, "This partnership is long overdue, but it is a success and a milestone for the entire continent, especially for African fans."

Kagame wants the African Grand Prix to open doors for more races on the continent. He believes this is possible and that they are proving it.

Lewis Hamilton, one of F1's biggest stars, will be happy with this news. The seven-time world champion has pushed for an African stop on the F1 circuit. He supported Rwanda’s plans in 2024 and called the country, "one of my favourite places."

South Africa was also in the running to host an F1 race. Last week, its sports minister highlighted that South Africa should not be overlooked.

“Rwanda has worked on it longer than South Africa and deserves it,” said South Africa's sports minister Gayton McKenzie on X last Thursday after the Rwanda deal was reported.

He reminded everyone that one country, Italy, has had two F1 races a year. He wondered why a continent with 55 countries could only have one. He predicted that South Africa would host F1 before 2030.