Formula One (F1) is set to return to Africa for the first time in nearly 40 years, with Rwanda securing a 10-year agreement to host races starting in the early 2030s. The announcement marks a significant milestone for the sport, which last held a Grand Prix in Africa at South Africa’s Kyalami Circuit in 1993.

The new race will take place in Bugesera, a district approximately 40 kilometers south of Kigali, Rwanda’s capital. The event will be staged on a purpose-built circuit designed to blend with the region’s natural features. Alexander Wurz, a former F1 driver, is involved in designing the track, expected to incorporate the area’s hills, forests, and elevation changes to provide a fast and challenging layout. Formula One officials have indicated that drivers will be consulted during the design process to optimize the racing experience.

Cost estimates for constructing the circuit and related infrastructure—including pit lanes, grandstands, media centers, and road improvements—exceed $71.5 million. Annual hosting fees could reach up to $70 million. These investments align with Rwanda’s broader ambitions under President Paul Kagame to transform the country’s global image and foster economic development through high-profile international events.

Kagame announced plans to bid for an F1 race at the 2024 Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) prize-giving ceremony in Kigali. The president envisions the race as part of positioning Rwanda as “Singapore in Africa,” attracting tourism, investment, and large-scale brands. The country has already made significant inroads into global sports sponsorship, with partnerships involving Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain, Atlético Madrid, and hosting events such as the NBA’s Basketball Africa League, the 2023 UCI Road World Championships, and the FIFA Congress.

However, the plan has drawn criticism from some observers who argue that Kagame may be using sport to divert attention from political repression at home and Rwanda’s controversial support of the M23 rebel group in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where ongoing conflict has resulted in significant violence.

The decision to award the race to Rwanda over South Africa, Africa's largest economy, signals Kagame’s determination to leverage the event as a symbol of national status and progress. Notably, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who is of Afro-Grenadian descent, has been an outspoken advocate for bringing Formula One to Africa. Hamilton visited Rwanda in 2022 and has actively lobbied stakeholders for the continent’s inclusion on the F1 calendar.

F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali described the deal as a “landmark moment” for the sport, emphasizing that Africa has long been a vital part of Formula One’s future plans. The introduction of the African Grand Prix will increase demands on an already busy F1 calendar, which reaches its current limit of 24 races in 2027. Some existing venues, including Portugal, have only short-term hosting agreements, potentially opening the schedule to accommodate Rwanda’s debut.

While Hamilton may be nearing the end of his racing career by the time the new African Grand Prix begins, his advocacy reflects a broader desire within the sport to engage new audiences and extend its global reach to the continent. Kagame highlighted the event’s potential impact on Africa’s youth, expressing hope that the race will inspire future generations to pursue roles in engineering, entrepreneurship, and motorsport itself.