Rwanda signs 10-year Formula 1 deal for African return in early 2030s

Rwanda has signed a 10-year agreement to host Formula 1, with the first race planned for the early 2030s, BBC Sport reported. The deal sets up the championship's return to Africa after an absence stretching back to 1993, although a specific opening year and a place in the annual calendar have not yet been established.

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The proposed venue is a purpose-built circuit in Bugesera, about 25 miles south of Kigali, beside the capital's new international airport. Former F1 driver Alex Wurz designed the track. According to the BBC report, WurzDesign will work with established circuit architect Tilke and DAR to oversee construction, with the layout making use of the area's hills and changes in elevation.

Formula 1 said the agreement followed years of collaboration on the project's foundations. Championship president Stefano Domenicali described the contract as a major step for the series and said the return would put F1 on every inhabited continent. He presented the deal as a long-term commitment, linking the choice of Rwanda to the sport's plans for a sustained presence in Africa.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame said the project was intended to create benefits beyond the race weekend, including employment, skills, tourism and business opportunities. He also highlighted the chance for African fans to experience the championship closer to home and for young people to pursue roles in engineering, technical work and motorsport. Those are the ambitions outlined by the president, rather than outcomes already delivered.

Scheduling remains unresolved. BBC Sport reported that F1 would probably seek to avoid Rwanda's main rainy season, which runs from March to May; a shorter rainy period falls in October and November. The championship remains committed to a maximum of 24 races per season, leaving the new event's eventual position to be determined.

The agreement also comes against a contentious political backdrop. The BBC noted that Rwanda has faced sportswashing criticism over its football sponsorships and reported that the Democratic Republic of Congo has brought an International Court of Justice case accusing Rwanda of treaty breaches. An F1 spokesperson defended sport's potential to have a positive influence while stressing the opportunity to reach fans across Africa.