The last time Formula 1 raced in Africa

Formula 1 is planning on going back to Africa. Stefano Domenicali, CEO of Formula One Group, confirmed this in an interview with Motorsport: “We want to go to Africa, but we need to have the right investment, and the right strategic planWe need to have the right moment, and we need to make sure that also in that country, in that region, in that continent, there is the right welcoming, because, of course, they have other priorities. We need to be always very careful in making the right choices". Formula 1 is therefore continuing its expansion policy: after conquering the United States with the help of Liberty Media and having a comprehensive presence in the Middle East with Grand Prix in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Abu Dhabi, they are now working to return to the African continent. “We can't be adding races in other locations and continue to ignore Africa” Lewis Hamilton said on the occasion of the Zandvoort Grand Prix, positioning himself as the first supporter of a return of Formula 1 in Africa.

Formula 1 is missing from Africa since 1993, when the last South African Grand Prix was held at Kyalami. Kyalami hosted the event continuously from 1967 to 1985 and again in 1992 after the abolition of apartheid. As mentioned before, the last South African Grand Prix took place in 1993. This historic race was a success for several reasons: only five cars reached the finish line, partly due to an unexpected downpour two laps before the end of the race. Sauber made his absolute debut in this circus, a story that will end in 2026 when Audi will complete the takeover of the company. But most importantly because Alain Prost took the victory in his Williams debut, demolishing the competition coming back from a sabbatical year. The French driver crossed the finish line more than a minute ahead of second-placed Ayrton Senna and having lapped all the other drivers.

The Kyalami circuit is still considered an iconic track by F1 fans and, despite not having hosted a race for more than 30 years, its sentimental value has never diminished. It is for this reason that, in 2023, Stefano Domenicali personally held contacts with track’s owners and local organizers to determine the feasibility of hosting a Grand Prix in South Africa in 2024. For political reasons, especially the US government accusing South Africa of selling weapons to Russia during the conflict in Ukraine, no action was taken. Yet the ambition to bring Formula 1 back to Africa remains undiminished. Here comes Rwanda, an African country that is experiencing an economic growth thanks to its political stability, which has allowed it to overcome the consequences of the 1994 genocide. This economic growth is partly due to tourism (which accounts for 11% of GDP, according to the American newspaper NPR), and where tourism is, there is Formula 1. "They are serious, they have presented a good plan and actually we have a meeting with them at the end of September. It will be on a permanent track” Domenicali explains. The goal is clear: to bring Formula 1 back to Africa and include the Rwandan Grand Prix on the calendar (possibly from 2026).