Report: F1 set to return to Africa with a Rwanda Grand Prix in 2030

[Golden Tara]

Rwanda will host a Formula One grand prix, reportedly joining the calendar in 2030, according to RacingNews365, which cites several unnamed paddock sources. The site says an agreement has been reached and an official announcement "could come later on this year - potentially in the coming weeks." This is a sourced report, not an official confirmation, so it is worth treating with some caution until F1 says so itself

Rwanda would build a permanent circuit about 40 km from the capital, Kigali, near the planned Bugesera International Airport. The designs are reportedly by WurzDesign, a company linked to former driver Alexander Wurz, which is also working on Saudi Arabia's Qiddiya Speed Park. Rwanda currently has no circuit capable of hosting an F1 race, which has led to scepticism about the bid

Rwanda's push for a race grew after Kigali hosted the FIA General Assemblies in 2024. Its leadership has stayed in close contact with FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem and F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali. Other African bids have been reported from Kyalami and Cape Town in South Africa, with rumoured interest from Morocco and Nigeria

F1 last raced in Africa at Kyalami in 1993, so a return would end a gap of almost four decades. Lewis Hamilton has been one of the loudest voices calling for F1 to race in Africa again. Every other inhabited continent has hosted races in recent years. Building a world class circuit from scratch in four years is ambitious, but it has been done before

Should F1 return to Africa? And would you rather see a new circuit in Rwanda or a return to Kyalami?

F1 to return to Africa for brand new grand prixracingnews365.com