Sports
F1 returns to Africa after 30-year absence with 10-year Rwanda deal
October 13, 2026 at 10:58 AM · Updated 3d ago
8 reports · 2 in Arabic, 6 in English · over 29 hours
F1 announced a 10-year deal with Rwanda to debut the African Grand Prix in the early 2030s, the sport's first race in Africa since 1993.
- F1 announced a 10-year deal with Rwanda to host the African Grand Prix, with the first race scheduled in the early 2030s.
- The event will take place at a new purpose-built circuit in Bugesera, 25 miles south of Kigali, designed by Alex Wurz.
- F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali said the championship will now compete on every inhabited continent with Rwanda's addition.
- President Paul Kagame said the deal ends more than three decades of racing without Africa and will bring jobs and tourism to Rwanda.
- FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem joined Domenicali and Kagame for the announcement in Kigali.
- Rwanda began planning the Bugesera circuit two years ago, near a new international airport.
- Domenicali cited more than 100 million African fans in framing the Rwandan race as part of the sport's global expansion.
- The Bugesera circuit will be six kilometres long, according to the announcement alongside the deal.
- Drivers Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen have welcomed the sport's return to Africa with the Rwanda race.
- Rwanda secured the race ahead of Morocco and South Africa by presenting a single financed plan, media reports said.
- The deal drew sportswashing concerns over Rwanda's human rights record and a Democratic Republic of Congo case at the International Court of Justice.



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