Formula 1 is reportedly poised to return to the African continent for the first time in decades, with sources close to the Rwandan government and the sport’s governing body confirming that Rwanda has successfully secured the rights to host a Grand Prix. While neither Rwandan officials nor the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) have formally finalized a public statement, government insiders indicate that the bid has been fully greenlit. An official announcement is expected to be delivered in the nation’s capital, Kigali, with strategic support from Qatar.
This milestone development fulfills a major goal for President Paul Kagame’s administration, which formally introduced the country’s ambitions when hosting an FIA gathering in late 2024. Over recent years, Rwanda has aggressively leveraged high-profile sports investments—spanning partnerships with European football giants like Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain, hosting the Basketball Africa League hubs, and organizing the 2025 Cycling World Championships—to bolster its global image, boost tourism, and draw foreign direct investment.
The decision is expected to be met with immense enthusiasm by seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton has been one of the sport’s most vocal advocates for bringing a Grand Prix back to Africa, previously praising Rwanda as a favorite destination and publicly endorsing its track ambitions.
However, the major sports venture has also drawn localized and international scrutiny. Critics have labeled the heavy financial outlay as “sports-washing,” arguing that glamorous global spectacles are utilized to divert attention away from severe human rights concerns and strict crackdowns on political opposition. Government sources have acknowledged internal sensitivities regarding the heavy spending, particularly in a developing economy where a portion of the population continues to struggle beneath the poverty line.
Meanwhile, Rwanda’s selection does not completely shut the door on other regional contenders. South Africa, which has also been actively bidding to host a round, insists its aspirations remain alive. South African sports minister Gayton McKenzie congratulated Rwanda on its persistence while emphasizing that the African continent—consisting of 55 nations—deserves multiple stops and expressing confidence that South Africa will secure an F1 race before 2030.
If finalized, the event will end a decades-long drought for African motorsport, transforming Rwanda into the focal point of a new era for Formula 1 on the continent.
