Formula 1 has officially confirmed a landmark 10-year agreement with the Rwanda Development Board to host a world championship round, securing the sport's return to the African continent for the first time since 1993.
The race, formally titled the Formula 1 African Grand Prix, presented by Visit Rwanda, was confirmed on Tuesday during an official press conference in Kigali attended by Formula 1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali, FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, and Rwandan President Paul Kagame. The long-term deal guarantees that Formula 1 will stage world championship Grands Prix across every inhabited continent.
Confirmed Details of the Agreement
The event will be staged at an all-new, purpose-built permanent racing facility currently under development in Bugesera, situated approximately 40 kilometres south of Kigali and directly adjacent to the new Kigali International Airport.
According to official releases from Formula 1 and event organizers, confirmed specifications of the venue and partnership include:
- Contract Duration: A 10-year commitment running from its debut in the early 2030s through the subsequent decade.
- Circuit Profile: A 6-kilometre, 17-turn anti-clockwise circuit engineered to FIA Grade 1 standards. The design incorporates the region’s topography, featuring an estimated 197 metres of elevation change per lap.
- Design Partners: Layout development is being led by WurzDesign, headed by former Formula 1 driver Alexander Wurz, in collaboration with Tilke Engineers and Architects.
- Multi-Use Infrastructure: Backed by the Rwanda Development Board, the facility will serve as a permanent regional sports, tourism, and business hub beyond Grand Prix weekends.
Formula 1 confirmed that the debut race will take place once construction and FIA homologation are complete, with organizers targeting the early 2030s.
Ending a 30-Year Continental Absence
Formula 1 has not raced on African soil since the 1993 South African Grand Prix at Kyalami. While several promoter groups—notably from South Africa—have pursued bids over the past decade, Rwanda's proposal is the first to achieve formal commercial sign-off and long-term calendar sanctioning.
The push for an African round has received outspoken backing across the grid, most notably from Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton, who has spent years advocating for the championship to close the geographical gap in its global schedule.
"Today belongs to Africa," said President Paul Kagame during the announcement. "For more than three decades, the world's premier motorsport championship has raced without this continent, and that changes with this agreement. Rwanda is proud to host the Formula 1 African Grand Prix."
Domenicali echoed the milestone's significance: "With Rwanda joining the calendar from the next decade, our sport will race in every inhabited continent, bringing the World Championship closer than ever to fans around the globe. Africa has always been part of Formula 1's future, and we were determined to return in the right way, with the right partner."
What Happens Next
Formula 1 stated that detailed milestones regarding track construction timelines, exact target dates for the inaugural event, and final circuit layout approvals will be published in due course as site works advance in Bugesera.
For the current season, the championship remains locked in an intense fight as round 18 approaches, with rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli heading the drivers' championship for Mercedes ahead of teammate George Russell and Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton.
To see how the current championship battle is projected to unfold over the remainder of the season, check out our latest race predictions.
