F1 Set to Return to Africa With New 2030 Rwanda Grand Prix

Ending a three-decade absence

Formula 1 is set to return to Africa with a brand new race in Rwanda joining the calendar in 2030, according to sources cited by RacingNews365, with an official announcement possibly coming within weeks. The race would mark the sport's first visit to the African continent since the 1993 South African Grand Prix at Kyalami, ending a gap of more than three decades.

An agreement is reported to already be in place between the relevant parties, though neither F1 nor the Rwandan government has made a formal announcement yet.

A president's years-long push

The deal is the result of sustained lobbying by Rwandan President Paul Kagame, who first publicly announced his country's bid at the FIA General Assembly in Kigali back in 2024. Since then, Kagame has maintained direct contact with FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem and F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, and attended the 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix in person as part of the effort.

Building from nothing

Rwanda currently has no facility capable of hosting a Formula 1 race, meaning a permanent circuit will need to be constructed roughly 40 kilometers from Kigali, near Bugesera International Airport. The track is being designed by WurzDesign, the firm run by former F1 driver Alexander Wurz, which is also currently working alongside Tilke Engineering on Saudi Arabia's Qiddiya Speed Park project.

Rwanda's bid succeeds where other attempts to bring F1 back to Africa have so far failed, including revival efforts for Kyalami and Cape Town, along with rumored interest from Morocco and Nigeria.

Backing from the paddock

The push for an African return has had support inside the sport as well. Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has been one of the most vocal advocates for F1 returning to the continent, adding a prominent voice to Kagame's long campaign and giving the eventual announcement, whenever it comes, an extra layer of significance for a sport that has long been criticized for its absence from Africa.