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Formula 1 is reportedly set to return to Africa in 2030, with Rwanda emerging as the destination after an agreement was reached for the country to host a Grand Prix.
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Rwanda plans to build a permanent racing circuit near Bugesera International Airport, about 40 kilometres from the capital Kigali, to meet the requirements of hosting the world’s premier motorsport championship.
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President Paul Kagame has been central to Rwanda’s F1 ambitions, while FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton have backed the return of the championship to Africa.
October 7, (THEWILL) – Formula 1 is reportedly on course to return to Africa for the first time in more than three decades, with Rwanda set to join the calendar in 2030 after reaching an agreement to host a Grand Prix.
According to information from well-placed sources in the F1 paddock, Rwanda has been granted the opportunity to stage a race, with the agreement potentially paving the way for the continent’s long-awaited return to the championship. An official announcement is expected later this year, possibly within the coming weeks, although Formula 1 and the Rwandan authorities have yet to formally confirm the deal.
The development represents a major breakthrough for Rwanda, which has spent the past two years working to turn its ambitious F1 project into reality. It would also end Africa’s long absence from the Formula 1 calendar, with the continent having last hosted a Grand Prix at Kyalami in South Africa in 1993.
At the centre of Rwanda’s campaign has been President Paul Kagame, who has personally pushed for the country to secure a place on the world’s biggest motorsport stage. Kagame formally announced Rwanda’s intention to bid for a Grand Prix during the FIA General Assemblies and Prize Giving Ceremony held in Kigali in 2024, turning months of speculation into an official national project.
At the time, the proposal faced an obvious obstacle. Rwanda did not have a circuit capable of hosting a Formula 1 race, leaving questions over whether the project could progress beyond an ambitious bid. Rather than abandon the plans, however, the country continued discussions with Formula 1 and the FIA while working towards the construction of a purpose-built facility.
That work has now taken a significant step forward.
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According to the information obtained by RacingNews365, Rwanda will build a permanent racing circuit approximately 40 kilometres from Kigali, close to Bugesera International Airport. The facility will be based on plans previously developed for the project and is expected to form the centrepiece of Rwanda’s proposed Formula 1 Grand Prix.
The circuit is being designed by WurzDesign, the company of former Formula 1 driver Alexander Wurz. The project is aimed at producing a permanent venue capable of meeting the demanding standards required to host a modern Grand Prix, rather than relying on a temporary street circuit.
Rwanda’s progress has also been strengthened by its growing relationship with Formula 1 and the FIA. Kagame attended the 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix and has maintained contact with FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem and Formula 1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali as the country’s bid developed.
The interest from the sport’s leadership is significant because Formula 1 has increasingly recognised Africa as the major missing piece in its global calendar.
For more than 30 years, the continent has been absent from the championship despite repeated efforts to bring back a Grand Prix. South Africa has explored a return at Kyalami, while other countries, including Morocco and Nigeria, have also been linked with potential bids at various points.
Rwanda’s project, however, appears to have gained the strongest momentum, with the planned permanent circuit giving the country a significant advantage as Formula 1 considers the long-term viability of potential venues.
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has been among the strongest voices calling for Formula 1 to return to Africa. The Mercedes-turned-Ferrari star has repeatedly spoken about his desire to race on the continent before ending his career, particularly because of his African heritage.
Hamilton’s support has added a powerful voice to a campaign that has also received backing from senior figures within the sport, including Ben Sulayem and Domenicali.
The potential 2030 race would therefore be about more than simply adding another destination to the Formula 1 calendar. It would represent the sport’s return to an entire continent that has been missing from the championship since the final South African Grand Prix at Kyalami in 1993.
For Rwanda, the project could also become another major international sporting showcase for a country that has increasingly used global sport to raise its profile and attract international attention.
But there is still an important step before the deal can be treated as official.
While the reported agreement marks a major development, Formula 1, the FIA and the Rwandan government are yet to make the formal announcement. Until that confirmation arrives, the 2030 Rwandan Grand Prix remains a reported agreement rather than an officially confirmed race on the Formula 1 calendar.
If completed, however, the message would be unmistakable: after 37 years away, Formula 1 would finally be coming back to Africa, and Rwanda could be the country that makes it happen.
Olumide Atiba is a sports journalist with THEWILL, known for his keen news sense and compelling storytelling. He has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, well-structured reports that resonate with readers, with a strong focus on football coverage
