From Lewis Hamilton’s long running campaign to Max Verstappen’s enthusiasm, Formula 1’s return to Africa has become a shared ambition across the sport. Formula 1’s long awaited return to Africa is moving closer to reality, with Rwanda announced as the host of the African Grand Prix under a 10-year agreement that will bring the championship back to the continent in the early 2030s. The announcement, made on October 13, 2026, follows years of calls from drivers, officials and motorsport stakeholders for Formula 1 to return to a continent it has not visited since the 1993 South African Grand Prix at Kyalami. Among the sport’s most vocal advocates has been seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who has repeatedly argued that Africa deserves a place on the championship calendar. ALSO READ: African drivers welcome historic Rwanda-F1 Grand Prix deal But Hamilton is not alone. Fellow world champions, younger drivers and senior figures within Formula 1 have also welcomed the prospect. ‘We need to have a Grand Prix in Africa’ — Lewis Hamilton Hamilton has spent several years campaigning behind the scenes for Formula 1 to race in Africa again, describing the return as a personal ambition as well as an important step for the sport. Speaking before the announcement of Rwanda’s hosting agreement, the Ferrari driver said, “I’ve always said that we need to have a Grand Prix in Africa. It is, for me, the most important continent and the most beautiful continent. We’re on all the other continents but not that one, and there should be no reason for it.” He also acknowledged the efforts of Formula 1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali in exploring opportunities across the continent. ALSO READ: F1 in Rwanda: A guide to tickets, prices and packages “It’s something I’ve been pushing for in the background and Stefano’s been amazing – he’s flown to Africa so many times over the last couple of years, speaking to lots of different people.” For Hamilton, whose family background includes Afro-Caribbean heritage, the prospect of racing in Africa carries significance beyond adding another destination to the calendar. In March 2026, he said he did not want to retire from Formula 1 without competing in an African Grand Prix, underlining how important the prospect had become to him. Rwanda’s agreement now brings that ambition closer to reality, although the planned race is still several years away. ‘That would be great’ — Max Verstappen Four-time world champion Max Verstappen also welcomed the possibility of Formula 1 returning to Africa. Speaking before the agreement was announced, the Red Bull driver said: “For sure, if that’s possible that would be great. We want to race in a lot of different places in the world, so I really hope it can be pushed through.” Verstappen also referred to his visit to Rwanda, where he attended the FIA Prize Giving ceremony in 2024. “I’ve been to Rwanda once, of course. But let’s wait, let’s see if it all goes through. I think we are all very excited if that would happen.” His comments reflected the growing interest among drivers in the possibility of competing in Rwanda, where organisers plan to build a purpose-designed circuit in Bugesera, south of Kigali. The venue is expected to incorporate the region’s natural landscape, with significant elevation changes and a layout intended to create challenging racing conditions. ‘It’s about time we had a race there’ — George Russell Mercedes driver George Russell has also backed the return of Formula 1 to Africa, pointing to the continent’s absence from a championship that presents itself as a global sport. “I was in Africa earlier this year and I really, really loved my time there,” Russell said before the announcement. “Formula 1 is a worldwide sport. Africa is the only continent we don’t race on and it’s about time we had a race there.” The championship has expanded into new markets in recent years, including the Middle East and the United States, making Africa’s prolonged absence an increasingly prominent subject of discussion. Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris: Support for Formula 1 return to Africa Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and McLaren’s Lando Norris have also expressed support for bringing Formula 1 back to Africa, adding their voices to a growing number of drivers who believe the continent deserves a place on the championship calendar. Leclerc has backed Lewis Hamilton’s long-running campaign, saying in comments reported by Autosport: “I agree with Lewis, on Africa in general, it would be great to have a race there.” Norris has also highlighted the opportunity Africa presents for Formula 1 to expand its reach and connect with new audiences. The McLaren driver described the continent as “the perfect place” to introduce Formula 1 to new audiences. Formula 1 has expanded its presence in several international markets in recent years, but Africa has remained absent from the calendar since the 1993 South African Grand Prix at Kyalami. With Rwanda now set to host a Grand Prix under a 10-year agreement, in the early 2030s, that ambition has moved from years of discussion towards a concrete project. The next test will be whether the organisers, engineers, teams and governing bodies can deliver a race that meets the expectations of drivers and fans.
