F1 shares exciting news as the 33-year wait is finally over!
F1 is excited to announce its return to Africa with the new African Grand Prix, which will take place in Bugesera, Rwanda, in the early 2030s. Formula 1 has signed a 10-year deal with Rwanda, and a brand-new race track has been built just outside the capital city, Kigali, to host this special event.
The race will be called the African Grand Prix, presented by Visit Rwanda, though the exact year in the 2030s hasn’t been decided yet. This is great news because Africa has been the only continent missing from the F1 calendar, even as the sport has grown in Asia and North America over recent years.
The announcement was made at an event in Kigali, with important guests like FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, and Rwanda’s president Paul Kagame in attendance. If the first race happens in 2030, it will be the first F1 race in Africa in 37 years since the last one in South Africa back in 1993.
Though South Africa has been eager to bring F1 back to its Kyalami circuit, Rwanda’s Development Board has taken the lead with a stronger plan to host the race. They aim to make the area a year-round racing destination for visitors.
The new venue, about 40 km from Kigali, will have not only the race track but also homes, hotels, and more. The Board’s CEO, Jean-Guy Afrika, said last December that this project is like building a whole new city, with the F1 track as a key part.
President Kagame shared his excitement, saying, “Today belongs to Africa. For more than 30 years, this top motorsport has been missing from our continent, and now that’s changing. Rwanda is honored to bring F1 here and inspire millions of young fans who deserve to see the sport up close—and maybe even become engineers, entrepreneurs, or drivers one day. This 10-year deal is not just about one race weekend. It’s an investment in our country’s future that will create jobs, skills, tourism, and new business for years to come.”
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali added, “This is a huge moment for our sport. With Rwanda joining the schedule, F1 will race on every inhabited continent, bringing fans closer to the action than ever before. Africa has always been part of F1’s future, and we’re committed to doing it right—with strong partnerships and a real plan to make a positive impact. Over 100 million fans in Africa are ready for this, and we can’t wait to start this exciting new chapter together.”
Not everyone was immediately thrilled, though. Some social media users expressed concerns about whether the race would really help everyday Rwandans. One person said the money might be better spent on vocational schools or other projects that benefit communities directly, since most people in Rwanda don’t own cars or follow racing closely.
Others pointed out that hosting F1 can be very costly and mainly attracts wealthy visitors, with little benefit for the middle class. Still, many are hopeful that the race will bring new opportunities and growth to the region.
Overall, the F1 return to Africa marks an exciting new era, and fans everywhere will be watching closely to see how the African Grand Prix takes shape.