When we examined Africa’s prospects of hosting Formula One again in August 2025, Nigeria, Rwanda and South Africa were among the countries in contention. Rwanda has now emerged as the first to make it happen, with Formula One confirming a 10-year agreement to host the African Grand Prix in the early 2030s.

The announcement, made in Kigali on Tuesday, October 13, ends Africa’s 33-year absence from the Formula One calendar. The continent last hosted a race at the 1993 South African Grand Prix at Kyalami.

The inaugural Rwandan race will be held at a new purpose-built circuit in Bugesera, about 40 kilometres south of Kigali and close to the site of the new Kigali International Airport. The circuit will be developed to FIA Grade 1 standards, with the first race scheduled for once construction is completed, currently expected in the early 2030s.

The project will be led by the Rwanda Development Board as part of a wider sports, tourism and commercial development. The circuit is being designed by Carsten Tilke of Tilke Engineering and former F1 driver Alex Wurz, with the natural elevation changes around Bugesera expected to form part of the track’s character.

The confirmation also delivers on a push Rwanda began publicly in December 2024, when President Paul Kagame announced the country’s intention to bid for a Grand Prix during the FIA’s annual awards ceremony in Kigali.

The confirmation also lands after years of calls from drivers including Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen and George Russell for Formula One to return to Africa. Hamilton has repeatedly called for the sport to return to the continent, while Verstappen and Russell have also backed the prospect of an African race. Verstappen has a particularly recent connection to Rwanda, having travelled to Kigali in 2024 to collect his drivers’ championship trophy.

For Rwanda, it’s a significant head start over the other African countries that had been pursuing a race. South Africa had been exploring a return through Kyalami and Cape Town, while Nigeria appointed Opus Racing Promotions to engage with Formula One Management and the FIA over a proposed race in Abuja.

South Africa’s sports minister Gayton McKenzie congratulated Rwanda following the announcement but has maintained that his country isn’t entirely out of the race.

[WATCH] “Rwanda has not beaten us… we are looking at 2028/2029… we have spoken to the most important people, which are the sponsors.” Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie says South Africa is still on track to host the F1 Grand Prix in 2028 or 2029. #Newzroom405 https://t.co/HUkZJ3kpFt

— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) October 14, 2026