'It's about time!' - F1 drivers excited amid Rwanda GP rumours — SkimNews
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- Lewis Hamilton said he has been pushing F1 president Stefano Domenicali to prioritize adding an African Grand Prix, praising the Italian for flying to Africa 'so many times' over the last couple of years to meet with officials.
- Several Thursday reports claim an agreement has been struck, with a formal announcement potentially coming as soon as next week to add Rwanda to the F1 calendar for the 2030 season.
- George Russell said 'it is about time' F1 raced in Africa — the only continent it does not currently visit — and noted he visited the continent earlier in 2026 and 'really, really loved' his time there.
- Max Verstappen confirmed he has been to Rwanda once and said 'it would be great' if the race went ahead, expressing hope the deal can be 'pushed through.'
- Africa has not hosted an F1 race since the 1993 South African Grand Prix, a gap Hamilton has publicly campaigned to close for years.
- The 2027 F1 calendar is already set at 24 races, but several current host deals expire before 2030 — Portugal on a two-year deal, Mexico and Singapore only secured through 2028, and Japan only through 2029 — opening space for a new venue.
Why it matters: A Rwanda race would end Africa's F1 absence dating to 1993 and fulfill Hamilton's long-running public campaign, while the targeted 2030 debut aligns with the expiration of existing host deals in Portugal, Mexico, Singapore, and Japan that could free up a calendar slot beyond the already-locked 24-race 2027 schedule.
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