Formula 1 has been criticised for its ten-year deal with Rwanda, with reporter Frank Woestenburg questioning the decision to bring the championship to a country accused of political repression and involvement in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Woestenburg made the comments in the latest edition of Formula 1 Paddock Talk, where analyst and racing driver Jeroen Bleekemolen also appeared as a guest.
The reporter argued that Rwanda lacks an established motorsport culture and questioned whether Formula 1 should be entering into a long-term agreement with the country given the concerns surrounding its political leadership and human rights record.
“In the last elections in 2024, President Paul Kagame received 99.2 percent of the vote. That makes you a dictator,” Woestenburg said.
He pointed to the exclusion of major opposition parties from the election and reports from organisations including Human Rights Watch documenting alleged restrictions on political opposition, intimidation of journalists, arbitrary detention and limitations on freedom of expression.
Woestenburg argued that these concerns should prompt Formula 1 to reconsider its decision to pursue a race in Rwanda.
“Formula 1 has no business being in such a country,” he said.
Rwanda deal raises questions over Formula 1’s priorities
The proposed Rwandan Grand Prix has become a subject of debate about Formula 1’s global expansion strategy and the considerations that influence where the championship chooses to race.
For Woestenburg, the agreement raises questions about the balance between commercial growth and the political circumstances surrounding prospective host nations.
He also highlighted the contrast between Formula 1’s ambitions in Rwanda and the uncertainty surrounding several established European venues.
“Meanwhile, circuits like Zandvoort, Imola, and Spa-Francorchamps are disappearing entirely or partially from the calendar,” he said.
His comments reflect a wider debate over the championship’s willingness to expand into new markets while traditional circuits face increasing financial pressure and uncertainty over their long-term futures.
Lewis Hamilton reportedly involved in Rwanda Grand Prix push
Lewis Hamilton has been one of the most prominent voices calling for Formula 1 to return to Africa, arguing that the continent deserves a place on the championship calendar after decades without a Grand Prix.
The seven-time world champion has repeatedly spoken about his desire to see F1 race in Africa, highlighting the continent’s importance and the need for the sport to broaden its global representation. Previous reports have also suggested that Hamilton was involved in the process of bringing a Grand Prix to Rwanda.
Rwanda’s plans have emerged against the backdrop of Hamilton’s long-standing campaign for an African race. Hamilton has spoken warmly about Rwanda following his travels across Africa, identifying it as one of the places he particularly enjoyed visiting.
The Ferrari driver has argued that a Grand Prix could introduce international audiences to the continent’s diversity while helping generate tourism and economic opportunities.
On 7 November 2024, during the FIA’s Thursday press conference ahead of the São Paulo Grand Prix, Hamilton explicitly mentioned Rwanda as a potential host and revealed his ambition to race there before retiring.
“I’ve been talking about Africa, and we’ve got, potentially, Rwanda on the cards, which is amazing. So I just hope it comes in time before I’m gone. That’s my biggest dream, is to make sure that I get to race there before I retire,” Hamilton said.
His comments followed earlier reports that he had been working behind the scenes to help bring a Grand Prix to the continent. In November 2024, Hamilton publicly confirmed that he had been discussing African expansion, with Rwanda emerging as a possible destination.
Hamilton’s six year campaign
“The time’s 100 per cent right. We can’t be adding races in other locations and continue to ignore Africa, which the rest of the world just takes from. No one gives anything to Africa,” Hamilton said at the Dutch Grand Prix, as reported by Reuters.
His involvement went beyond public expressions of support. Hamilton explained in March 2026 that he had been working on the issue for approximately six years, meeting stakeholders and repeatedly asking why the championship was represented on every other inhabited continent but not Africa.
That distinction is central to the debate surrounding Rwanda. The question raised by Woestenburg is whether the championship can pursue its ambitions for African expansion while adequately addressing concerns about political freedoms, human rights and the country’s regional role.
Human rights concerns put the spotlight on Rwanda
Rwanda’s political leadership under President Paul Kagame has attracted sustained international scrutiny. Human rights organisations have raised concerns about political freedoms, the treatment of critics and restrictions affecting independent media.
The country has also faced allegations of supporting armed groups operating in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where a prolonged conflict has caused widespread displacement and instability. Rwanda has disputed aspects of the accusations made against it.
These issues have added a political dimension to discussions about the potential Grand Prix, placing the proposed race within a broader debate about the responsibilities of international sporting organisations when selecting host countries.
Formula 1 has previously faced criticism over races held in countries where human rights and political freedoms are contested.
Woestenburg makes pointed comparison with Russia
The reporter concluded his criticism with a sarcastic reference to the possibility of Formula 1 returning to Russia.
Woestenburg said he would no longer be surprised if the championship’s leadership were already discussing a street race with Vladimir Putin, potentially staged on Red Square in Moscow.
The remark underlined his argument that Formula 1’s search for new markets risks taking precedence over questions about the political circumstances of prospective host nations.
Whether the Rwanda agreement ultimately results in a race remains a key question. For Woestenburg, however, the central issue is already clear: Formula 1 must consider more than commercial opportunities when deciding where its championship should compete.
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The Judge, a nom de plume of an experienced F1 journalist and site founder with long-standing sources across the paddock. With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
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