After 33 years, Formula 1 is returning to Africa. Africa is officially back on the Formula 1 calendar. Formula 1 has confirmed a landmark 10-year agreement with Rwanda that will see the Formula 1 African Grand Prix, presented by Visit Rwanda, join the championship in the early 2030s.
The announcement brings to an end more than three decades of F1′s absence from the continent. The last Formula 1 race in Africa was the 1993 South African Grand Prix at Kyalami, where Alain Prost took victory for Williams. Rwanda’s agreement therefore represents one of the most significant developments in African motorsport in decades.
A Brand-New Circuit in Bugesera
Unlike previous African F1 proposals centred on existing circuits, Rwanda’s Grand Prix will be built around a completely new purpose built circuit. The venue will be located in Bugesera, approximately 40 kilometres south of Kigali and next to the new Kigali International Airport. The circuit is being developed to meet FIA Grade 1 standards, the highest circuit classification required to host Formula 1.
Rather than simply placing a racing circuit on a flat piece of land, the design is expected to take advantage of Bugesera’s natural elevation changes. Formula 1 says this will help create a challenging circuit while providing strong viewing opportunities for spectators.
The final layout is being developed in collaboration with Wurz Design, headed by former F1 driver Alex Wurz, and Tilke Engineers & Architects, the German engineering firm behind several modern Formula 1 circuits, including Malaysia’s Sepang International Circuit. The exact circuit length, number of corners and other technical characteristics have not yet been announced.
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of Rwanda’s F1 project is that the circuit is being conceived as something much bigger than a venue that comes alive once a year. The project forms part of a wider sports, tourism, infrastructure and commercial development programme led by the Rwanda Development Board. Once completed, the facility is expected to operate throughout the year, hosting international motorsport, major events, conferences and entertainment.
That gives Rwanda an opportunity to create an entire motorsport ecosystem around the Grand Prix rather than treating F1 as a standalone sporting event. Formula 1 and the Rwandan government have also highlighted ambitions around tourism, investment, skills development, employment and opportunities for local businesses.
Why Rwanda
Rwanda’s selection is not entirely unexpected. The country has spent years positioning itself as a destination for major international sporting and business events. It hosted the 2024 FIA General Assemblies and FIA Awards Ceremony, as well as the UCI Road World Championships, the Basketball Africa League and the 2023 FIFA Congress. The country also formally announced its ambition to host Formula 1 in 2024. That strategy has now paid off.
Formula 1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali described the announcement as a “landmark moment”, saying the sport had been determined to return to Africa with the right partner, a long-term commitment and a clear vision for creating meaningful impact.
The announcement also closes one of the more intriguing chapters in Formula 1’s attempts to return to Africa.
For years, South Africa’s Kyalami appeared to be the most obvious candidate. The historic circuit repeatedly featured in discussions about F1’s return, including efforts to bring it up to the FIA Grade 1 standard. However, negotiations never ultimately produced a confirmed Grand Prix.
Rwanda has now effectively won that race. Rwanda’s approach has been different: rather than relying on an existing facility, it is developing a new circuit alongside a major airport and wider infrastructure project, giving F1 and its partners a long-term development platform. South Africa could still potentially return to the calendar in the future, but Rwanda is now guaranteed a place in Formula 1’s next African chapter.
For Kenya and other African countries, the lesson may not necessarily be to build an F1 circuit. It may be to ask how existing motorsport assets can be developed into larger economic and tourism platforms.
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