Formula 1 is reportedly set to return to Africa for the first time in more than 30 years, with Rwanda said to have secured an agreement to host a Grand Prix.
The news agency AFP reported on Thursday that sources within the Rwandan government and the FIA, Formula 1’s governing body, had confirmed that the country’s bid had been approved. However, the agreement has not yet been officially announced.
If confirmed, Rwanda would become the first African country to host a Formula 1 race since the championship last visited South Africa in 1993.
Rwanda reportedly reaches agreement with Formula 1
According to government sources cited by AFP, Rwanda’s bid to host a Grand Prix has been successful.
“Rwanda’s bid to host the Formula 1 race has been approved, an agreement has been reached,” the sources said.
A source close to the FIA reportedly told AFP that an official announcement is expected next week in Kigali, Rwanda’s capital.
The project is also expected to receive support from Qatar, according to the report. However, Formula 1’s return to Africa is unlikely to happen immediately.
The 2027 calendar has already been established, while media reports have indicated that Rwanda’s proposed debut could take place in 2030.
Hamilton has pushed for African Grand Prix
A return to Africa has been an increasingly important subject for Formula 1 in recent years, with Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton among the most vocal supporters.
The seven-time world champion said earlier this season that he had been working behind the scenes for several years to help bring a Grand Prix to the continent.
“For six, maybe even seven years I have been fighting behind the scenes to put on a Grand Prix,” Hamilton said in Melbourne.
The Ferrari driver added: “I sit down with the people in charge and ask: ‘Why aren’t we in Africa?’ I don’t want to leave the sport without a Grand Prix there, without being able to race there, so I’m campaigning for it.”
Hamilton’s comments highlighted the absence of Africa from the modern Formula 1 calendar, despite the championship’s continued expansion into new markets.
David Coulthard also hinted at Rwanda race
Former Formula 1 driver David Coulthard recently added to speculation about an imminent announcement.
“I’m hearing rumors that we’ll be getting an announcement about Africa soon. So we will be going to Africa,” Coulthard said on the Up to Speed podcast.
Rwanda has been linked with plans for a Formula 1 race for some time, with the country seeking to establish itself as a major destination for international motorsport.
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has also previously expressed openness to expanding the championship’s presence in Africa.
If the latest reports are confirmed, Rwanda would therefore represent Formula 1’s first new African destination in more than three decades and a significant addition to the championship’s expanding global footprint.
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