Rwanda in talks with F1 to host a Grand Prix

Formula 1 has always wanted to expand worldwide. After significant investments were made to be broadcasted in North America, it now wants to capitalize on this wave of popularity to spread to all corners of the globe. According to recent information, it seems that they have set their sights on Africa. These are the words reported by Motorsport, explaining that F1 is seriously considering adding an event on the African continent, within its already busy calendar.

Rwanda, a preferred destination.

Historically, South Africa seemed the natural destination for a return of F1 to Africa, having hosted Grand Prix races in East London (1962, 1963, 1965) and on the Kyalami circuit near Johannesburg (from 1967 to 1985, then in 1992 and 1993). However, negotiations have recently shifted towards Rwanda, a country in East Africa that has heavily invested in organizing sports events. This small country has become an increasingly popular destination, attracting the interest of F1 promoters.

🚨 Les dirigeants de la F1 vont s’entretenir avec des représentants du Rwanda pour l’organisation d’un prochain GP dans le pays d’Afrique de l’Est ! 🇷🇼

“Ils sont sérieux” estime Stefano Domenicali, PDG de la Formule 1. “Ils ont présenté un bon plan et nous avons d’ailleurs une… pic.twitter.com/d3tsbq98rL

— Off Track (@OffTrack_FR) August 8, 2024

Stefano Domenicali, CEO of F1, confirmed interest in Rwanda by announcing that a meeting with the country’s representatives is scheduled for September. He described the project as “promising” and emphasized the seriousness of the Rwandan authorities.

Translate: « They are serious. They have presented a good plan and, in fact, we have a meeting with them at the end of September. It will be on a permanent track. » If this project were to succeed, it would mark a historic return of Africa to the Formula 1 World Championship, after 31 years of absence from the calendar, the last Grand Prix dating back to 1993, in which Alain Prost won at the wheel of his FW15C.

This country, located south of Uganda, seems particularly well positioned to host a Grand Prix, as evidenced by the presence of representatives from the Rwanda Development Board at this year’s Monaco Grand Prix and the organization of the FIA’s annual General Assembly and awards ceremony in its capital, Kigali, next December.

A Grand Prix in Africa that symbolizes the growing reputation of Formula 1

Since being acquired by Liberty Media for 8 billion dollars, Formula 1 has experienced exponential growth, doubling its value thanks to a strategy focused on capturing new markets, particularly in the United States. Formula 1 now organizes three Grand Prix events per year on American soil, with the addition of the Las Vegas circuit last year, as well as adapting the product for social media and various platforms, notably by creating a Netflix series on Formula 1, allowing fans to uncover more about the behind-the-scenes of this sport.

Now that she has strengthened her popularity, she is now looking to expand it to other regions of the world, with Africa being a priority. Domenicali expressed his enthusiasm for a race in Africa, while specifying that it could take some time, as Rwanda does not yet have a circuit capable of hosting a Grand Prix.

« We want to go to Africa, but we must have the right investment and the right strategic plan. We must choose the right moment, and we must make sure that, in this country, in this region, on this continent, the welcome is adequate, because, of course, they have other priorities. We must always be very careful in making the right choices. »

A potentially further expanded calendar

If this project were to materialize, it would bring the F1 calendar to a record 25 races, a number that reflects the overall growth of the discipline. Domenicali noted that many countries are in discussions to host races, allowing F1 to work on continuous improvements to the Grand Prix experience.

« Until 2020, we were in a situation where the number of places wanting to host F1 was not so high. Now it’s the opposite. We have so many places in the world that want to host F1 that it allows us to ensure that we work together with them to improve the experience. » The Italian nevertheless indicated that adjustments may be made in the coming years, while revealing that other applications are currently being studied, with Thailand being the first.

(I) I do not see any major changes in the short term, but in the coming months, we need to discuss what the schedules for 2026, 2027, and 2028 will be. We have different options, but we are in a good position.

« The other serious candidacy concerns Thailand and I will go to Bangkok after the Singapore Grand Prix to assess the situation there, concluded the Italian leader. The calendar will not be disrupted in the short term, except for the arrival of Madrid next year, but we are working on the medium term, by 2028, to meet ever-increasing demands.

With Rwanda and Thailand potentially added to the calendar in the coming years, F1 clearly shows its intention to continue expanding its horizons. Destinations that could further enhance the attractiveness of the sport, a reputation that continues to grow due to the spectacle it offers every weekend.