Skip to content
Bramble

Sport

Rwanda signs 10-year deal to host Formula 1 races from early 2030s

Formula 1 announced a 10-year agreement with Rwanda to host a grand prix from the early 2030s on a new circuit at Bugesera near Kigali, the sport's first race in Africa since 1993.

7 outlets · 0L · 6C · 1R First reported Account updated

Updated (version 2). New coverage since the last version from Anadolu Agency, Deutsche Welle, The National.

Image: BBC News
Image: City A.M.
Image: Gulf News
Image: CNA
Image: The National
Image: Anadolu Agency
Image: Deutsche Welle

1 / 7

The story, neutrally told

Centre · 2Formula 1 announced on 13 October 2026 that Rwanda has signed a 10-year deal to host races starting in the early 2030s. Centre · 2It will be the first F1 race in Africa since the 1993 South African Grand Prix at Kyalami. Centre · 2The race will be held on a new purpose-built circuit at Bugesera, about 25 miles (40km) south of Kigali and next to the city's new international airport, which is under construction.

Centre · 2The circuit is to be built to FIA Grade 1 standards, the highest classification needed to host F1 races, as part of a wider sports, tourism, infrastructure and commercial project led by the Rwanda Development Board, and Gulf News says the venue is meant to host other motorsport, conferences and entertainment year-round. Centre · 1The BBC reports that the circuit was designed by former F1 driver Alex Wurz, with long-time F1 track architect Tilke and DAR overseeing the build alongside WurzDesign. Centre · 1F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali called it "a landmark moment" that means the sport will race "on every inhabited continent", and said Africa has more than 100 million F1 fans. He spoke at a Kigali press conference with Rwandan President Paul Kagame and FIA head Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

Mixed · 2Kagame said the sport has raced without the continent for more than three decades and that the circuit and airport will bring "jobs, skills, tourism and new business", adding that the aim was "a lasting benefit for our people". Centre · 1Anadolu Agency says Rwanda formally launched its bid in December 2024, when Kagame announced plans at the FIA's annual meetings in Kigali, and that details of the inaugural race date, circuit development and race weekend arrangements will be announced later. Centre · 2The National and Deutsche Welle note that Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton has long argued for an African race; Hamilton said in Singapore that Africa is "the most important continent", and DW says it is unclear whether he will still be racing when the Rwanda event starts.

Right · 1City A.M. reports the race already has a title sponsor, the state-backed tourism board Visit Rwanda, which recently moved its sponsorship from Arsenal's sleeve to the front of Aston Villa's shirt. Centre · 1Gulf News also describes the event as the Formula 1 African Grand Prix "presented by Visit Rwanda". Centre · 1The BBC says the race is likely to prompt human rights groups to accuse Rwanda of sportswashing, and notes that the Democratic Republic of Congo has filed a case against Rwanda at the International Court of Justice alleging breaches of treaties covering genocide prevention, racial discrimination, women's rights and torture.

Centre · 1Deutsche Welle also raises sportswashing: it says Kagame, president for 25 years, routinely wins over 99% of the vote in a country often criticised for its human rights record, and that Bayern Munich dropped its Visit Rwanda deal last year after fan and media backlash while Arsenal did not renew. It calls the F1 deal Rwanda's biggest sporting coup to date. Mixed · 2The race's place in the calendar has not been decided. The BBC says F1 is committed to no more than 24 races a season, while City A.M. cites a 25-race limit. Centre · 2Earlier African talks with F1, including over Kyalami and Cape Town, did not produce a deal. CNA notes Rwanda will be the third African country to host a championship round, after South Africa and Morocco, which held a race in 1958.

Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.

Left0 outlets

No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.

Centre6 outlets

Framing
Report the deal as a historic return to Africa, led by the 10-year term, the 1993 gap and official quotes. The BBC and Deutsche Welle add human rights and sportswashing context; Gulf News, The National and Anadolu mostly relay the F1 announcement.
Emphasis
Domenicali, Kagame and Ben Sulayem quotes, circuit location and design, FIA Grade 1 standard, F1's African fan base, Hamilton's advocacy and the history of African grands prix.
Leaves out or plays down
CNA, Gulf News, The National and Anadolu do not mention sportswashing criticism or the DRC case. Only Gulf News mentions Visit Rwanda's presenting role.
For example
“Many critics have labeled the policy as sportswashing.” — Deutsche Welle
“The news is likely to be well received by” — The National
“Further details on the inaugural race date, circuit development and race weekend arrangements will be announced later.” — Anadolu Agency

Right1 outlet

Framing
City A.M. treats the deal as a business and sponsorship story, with Rwanda beating South Africa to a calendar slot and Visit Rwanda's sports sponsorship portfolio.
Emphasis
Visit Rwanda's sponsorship of football and basketball teams, and other countries hoping to join the calendar.
Leaves out or plays down
Does not mention the sportswashing criticism or the DRC case at the ICJ.
For example
“Formula 1 will return to Africa for the first time in 40 years after the sport signed a 10-year deal with Rwanda.” — City A.M.

Ask about this story

Loading…