The last time Formula 1 hosted a race in Africa was way back in 1993. But a new track in Rwanda is set to host a Grand Prix in "the early 2030s," continuing the country’s investment in international sport.
Rwanda's President Paul Kagame has invested plenty in sports, with F1 a major coupImage: Bright Emoja/AFP
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After nearly 40 years of false starts, motor racing's premier sport is returning to Africa, after Formula 1 announced on Tuesday that Rwanda would soon host a Grand Prix.
The race will be know as the African Grand Prix after a 10-year contract was signed between the parties. With no suitable track ready, Rwanda will build one in Bugesera, southeast of the capital Kigali. F1 said it will be ready "early in the next decade."
The last time F1 raced in Africa was the South African Grand Prix in 1993. While there has since been plenty of talk of the sport returning to the continent, most often mentioning South Africa itself, nothing concrete had happened, until now.
A race in every continent
"Today is a landmark moment for Formula 1," F1 President and chief executive Stefano Domenicali said. "With Rwanda joining the calendar from the next decade our sport will race in every inhabited continent, bringing the world championship closer than ever to fans around the globe.
"Africa has always been part of Formula 1's future, and from the beginning we were determined to return in the right way, with the right partner, a long-term commitment and a clear vision for creating meaningful impact."
One of the most vocal proponents of a race in Africa has been seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton. The 41-year-old Black British driver, currently with Ferrari, has said he has been "fighting in the background" for years to have a race in Africa. With the date not yet set in stone for the African Grand Prix, it remains to be seen whether he can prolong his career enough to be on the grid when the lights go out in Rwanda.
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For Rwandan President Paul Kagame, the event is "a success and a milestone for the entire continent, especially for the African fans." He added that he hoped it could lead to more F1 events in Africa.
Kagame has been president of Rwanda for 25 years, and essentially ran the country for the six years before that, following the genocide in 1994. He routinely wins over 99% of the vote in elections, and the country is often criticized for its human rights record.
Bayern Munich ended a commercial deal with 'Visit Rwanda' last yearImage: Bernd Feil/M.i.S./IMAGO
But Formula 1, one of the world's richest sports, will likely be seen as Kagame and Rwanda's biggest sporting coup to date.
Drivers' championships in Formula 1 history have often come down to the final race. In 2025, Lando Norris held off teammate Oscar Piastri and defending champion Max Verstappen to win.
Image: David Davies/empics/picture alliance
1976 – James Hunt vs. Niki Lauda
Lauda dominated the 1976 championship until his fiery accident at the Nürburgring. Forty-two days later, the Austrian was back in his Ferrari. Before the season finale in Japan, he was still three points ahead of Hunt. However, in heavy rain, Lauda parked his car shortly after the start. "Life is more important to me," he said. Hunt finished third, becoming world champion by one point.
Image: Nick Ut/AP Photo/picture alliance
1984 – Niki Lauda vs. Alain Prost
Lauda's third world championship title is the closest in Formula 1 history so far. He finished the season just half a point ahead of his teammate. Because the race in Monaco was canceled due to rain, only half the points were awarded. Before the final race in Portugal, Lauda was just 3.5 points ahead of Prost and moved up from 11th to second behind Prost, which was enough to win it all.
Image: Lehtikuva/dpa/picture alliance
1994 – Michael Schumacher vs. Damon Hill
Schumacher won the first of his seven titles off the track. Before the final race in Adelaide, he was one point ahead of Damon Hill in his Williams. When the Brit tried to overtake Schumacher after a driving error, they collided. The German slid into the tire barrier and was forced to retire. But Hill's car was also damaged, and he too had to retire, handing Schumacher the championship.
Image: Harry Melchert/dpa/picture alliance
1997 – Jacques Villeneuve vs. Michael Schumacher
In his second year with Ferrari, Schumacher was very close to winning the title. With a one-point lead over Williams driver Villeneuve, he traveled to Jerez for the season finale. When the Canadian made a risky overtaking maneuver, Schumacher "closed the door" and the two collided. The move cost Schumacher the race and all his points as Villeneuve finished third and won the title.
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2008 – Lewis Hamilton vs. Felipe Massa
Ferrari driver Felipe Massa had a chance to celebrate a title in front of his home crowd, but the party with his team and family started a bit too early. McLaren's Lewis Hamilton overtook Germany's Timo Glock in the penultimate corner of the race in Sao Paulo, handing the Brit a fifth-placed finish and his first world championship. Hamilton's margin of victory over Massa was just one point.
Image: Gero Breloer/dpa/picture alliance
2010 – Sebastian Vettel vs. Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber
In 2010, the German surprisingly became the youngest Formula 1 world champion in history at the time. Because his competitors, former world champion Fernando Alonso and Red Bull teammate Mark Webber, came into the pits too early, they got stuck in traffic. Vettel, who was 15 points behind Alonso before the season finale, chose a different tactic, won the race, and was the one laughing in the end.
Image: Luca Bruno/AP Photo/picture alliance
2016 – Nico Rosberg vs. Lewis Hamilton
In his third year with Hamilton as his teammate, Nico Rosberg benefited from the superiority of Mercedes in Formula 1. He engaged in a close battle with his former childhood friend, who went on to become his "favorite enemy." At the end of the 2016 season, the German prevailed by just five points and ended his career immediately after the race.
Image: Bratic/nordphoto/picture alliance
2021 – Max Verstappen vs. Lewis Hamilton
In the final race in Abu Dhabi, the Mercedes star had his eighth title in the bag until the very last lap. Race director Michael Masi made a controversial decision, reopening the race instead of ending it behind the safety car. Verstappen, who was tied with Hamilton on points before the final race, pulled ahead on fresh tires and clinched his first of four world championship titles to date.
Image: Tim Goode/empics/picture alliance
2025 - Lando Norris vs. Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen
Lando Norris had a 100 point lead over Max Verstappen at one point in the season, but going into the final race the Dutchman had roared back to within just 12. Norris was also being challenged by his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri, and the Australian overtook him early on in Abu Dhabi. Verstappen won the race, but Norris held on to third to seal the Briton's first world title by just two points.
