Formula 1 is reportedly on course for a long-awaited return to Africa, with Rwanda set to host a Grand Prix in 2030 under an agreement that could be formally announced before the end of the year.

If confirmed, the deal would bring the world’s premier motorsport championship back to the continent for the first time in 37 years. Africa last featured on the Formula 1 calendar in 1993, when the South African Grand Prix was staged at Kyalami.

Sources indicate that Rwanda has reached an agreement to host the race, with an official announcement expected later this year, potentially within weeks. The proposed event would represent a major breakthrough for the country and a significant development for Formula 1, which has faced persistent calls to restore a presence in Africa.

The project is centred on the construction of a new permanent circuit approximately 40 kilometres from Kigali, close to Bugesera International Airport. The track is reportedly being designed by WurzDesign, the company led by former Formula 1 driver Alexander Wurz.

The proposed circuit would be built specifically to meet the demands of Formula 1, as Rwanda currently does not have an existing venue capable of staging a Grand Prix.

Rwanda’s push for Formula 1 gained momentum in December 2024, when Kigali hosted the FIA General Assembly and Prize Giving Ceremony at the initiative of President Paul Kagame.

It was during the high-profile FIA gathering that Kagame publicly revealed Rwanda’s intention to pursue a Formula 1 race, following discussions with Formula 1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali.

The announcement initially attracted scepticism in some sections of the F1 community, largely because Rwanda had no circuit that could accommodate the championship. However, the ambitious proposal remained alive and the country continued to pursue the project.

Kagame subsequently attended the 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, further underlining Rwanda’s determination to establish itself as a serious contender for a place on the Formula 1 calendar.

The Rwandan president has also maintained contact with key figures in the sport, including FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem and Domenicali, as efforts to bring the project to fruition continued.

A successful bid would fit into Rwanda’s broader strategy of positioning itself as a host for major international sporting and business events. Kigali has increasingly attracted global organisations and high-profile competitions, while the country’s investment in infrastructure has strengthened its ambitions to become a major regional destination.

Should the agreement be formally confirmed, the 2030 Rwandan Grand Prix would mark a new chapter for both the country and Formula 1, putting Africa back on the sport’s calendar after more than three decades away.