Formula 1 in talks with Rwanda over hosting Grand Prix in Africa
F1 News
- Nicole Mulder
Stefano Domenicali has revealed that talks are planned with Rwanda about the possibility of hosting a Grand Prix. Formula 1 has long been interested in hosting a race on the African continent and previously South Africa seemed a serious candidate, but that project has not materialised as yet.
F1 in talks with Rwanda over Grand Prix
For a long time, there seemed to be talk of F1 returning to South Africa, which hosted 21 GPs between 1967 and 1993. However, the project at the historic Kyalami circuit did not get off the ground, according to the organisers partly because of the lack of government support.
Now another African country has emerged as a candidate: Rwanda. According to Domenicali, the country has presented a good plan and talks will take place at the end of September. Speaking to Autosport.com, the Formula 1 CEO stressed that he would like to see the sport return to Africa, but that this would require the right investments and strategic plans.
With 24 races, the F1 calendar is currently overcrowded. "I don't see big changes coming in the short term, but in the next couple of months we need to discuss what will be '26, '27 and '28. We have different options but we are in a good place," Domenicali said.
Earlier, the FIA announced that this year's awards gala will take place in Rwanda. This caused outrage after Lewis Hamilton, among others, also spoke negatively about Baku as the venue for the annual Prize Giving Ceremony. The Mercedes driver pointed out that the governing body thus does not seem to take its own sustainability plans very seriously.