Rwanda on pole to bring F1 back to Africa from 2030

An agreement in principle, with an announcement expected before year-end

The news first circulated in the paddock before being reported by RacingNews365, then picked up by much of the specialist press this week. The parties involved are said to have agreed on holding a Rwandan Grand Prix. An official announcement could come before the end of 2026, but don't expect F1 cars in Kigali before 2030 at the earliest.

Formula One Management remains cautious. No confirmation has been issued, and F1 usually only speaks once contracts are signed and funding is secured. The four-year wait comes down to one simple fact: the circuit doesn't exist yet.

A circuit to be built near the future Bugesera airport

Unlike South Africa, which has a historic venue in Kyalami (even if it would need modernising), Rwanda is starting from scratch. The plan is for a permanent track built close to the future Bugesera International Airport, south of the capital. Former F1 driver Alexander Wurz is reportedly working on the layout.

The stated aim is not a one-off spectacle but a lasting facility able to host the sport for years. That fits Kigali's broader strategy of attracting major international sporting events.

Kagame driving it, Hamilton championing it

Rwanda's bid owes a great deal to President Paul Kagame. In December 2024, Kigali hosted the FIA General Assembly and its annual prize-giving ceremony, and that is where the head of state formally announced his country's candidacy. Since then, Rwanda appears to have pulled ahead of its rivals, at least politically and organisationally.

In the paddock, Lewis Hamilton has been the loudest voice for a return to Africa. The seven-time world champion has pushed for it for six or seven years, meeting stakeholders behind the scenes, and has often said he doesn't want to leave F1 without racing on the continent. Given the timeline, the Ferrari driver would probably need to race until 2030 to make it happen.

David Coulthard also mentioned, around the Sepang weekend, rumours of an imminent announcement about Africa.

A calendar already bursting at the seams

Finding a slot is the next problem. The championship is capped at 24 Grands Prix, and the list of candidates keeps growing. Portugal and Turkey return in 2027, with Portimão on a multi-year deal. In August, Stefano Domenicali said talks with Africa were progressing well, while also citing discussions in South America and the Far East. The F1 boss has even received requests for a second race in China and Japan.

Bringing Rwanda in will therefore mean pushing someone out, or extending the rotation system already being considered for some European events. Kyalami, long seen as the natural choice, isn't out of the running, but it now looks to be trailing its rival.

If the announcement is confirmed, F1 will end a gap of nearly forty years without an African race. A circuit still has to be built, the project has to prove it can last, and a date has to be freed up. But for the first time in a long while, this looks less like wishful thinking and more like a construction site.