F1 in Rwanda? Reports point to a Grand Prix near Kigali
Photo: Clive Mason / Alpine / Renault Group
Motorsport Week, citing RacingNews365, reports that the parties involved have reached an agreement on a Formula 1 race near Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. F1 has not announced anything officially, so this remains a media report. The reports do, however, name a circuit location, a designer and the earliest possible date. Formula 1 last raced in Africa in 1993, at the South African Grand Prix at Kyalami.
What the reports say
According to Motorsport Week, an African Grand Prix would return to the official calendar no earlier than 2030. The outlet also says an official F1 announcement is expected soon, potentially before the end of 2026.
Africa is the only inhabited continent without a round on the current F1 calendar. Since 1993, fans and the F1 community have repeatedly called for a race to return there.
A new circuit near Kigali, with Alex Wurz involved
For now, the only circuit in Africa that could even consider an F1 return is Kyalami, the former home of the South African Grand Prix. Rwanda has no circuit that meets Formula 1 requirements.
According to the reports, a new permanent racing facility would be built near Kigali, close to Bugesera airport. Alex Wurz, a former F1 driver and circuit designer, is reportedly working on the project and the track layout.
Paul Kagame and Rwanda's 2024 bid
Rwandan President Paul Kagame publicly supports Formula 1's return to Africa. In 2024, Kigali hosted the FIA General Assemblies and the FIA Prize Giving Ceremony. During those events, Kagame announced Rwanda's formal bid to host an F1 Grand Prix.
Coulthard and Domenicali on the Africa talks
David Coulthard raised the subject on Up To Speed, the podcast he hosts with Will Buxton. The former Red Bull driver suggested that an announcement of a new round is close. "I'm hearing rumours that we'll have an announcement for Africa soon. So, we're going to be going to Africa," Coulthard said.
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali spoke to the media about the progress of the talks in August. "I think what I can say is that negotiations are progressing very well in Africa," Domenicali said.
Hamilton's push for an African race
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has long campaigned for F1 to return to Africa. Before the 2026 season-opening Australian Grand Prix, he described his efforts. "For the past six years, maybe seven, I've been fighting in the background to get a grand prix … sitting with stakeholders and asking the question: 'Why are we not in Africa?'," Hamilton said.
Hamilton also said he does not want to end his career without racing on the continent. "That would be amazing, given that I'm half African. There's one on every other continent, why not Africa? I know they're really trying," he said.
Where it would fit on the calendar
The F1 calendar has 24 races, and Portugal and Turkey have been added for 2027. On their podcast, Coulthard and Buxton backed a return to Sepang. With Portugal and Turkey already in and an Africa announcement reportedly coming soon, Coulthard struggled to see where Malaysia could fit into a 24-race schedule.
In August, Domenicali also named South America and the Far East as other areas under discussion. He added that F1 has received more requests for a second race in China and Japan, but for now wants to stay with one round in China.