Lewis Hamilton wants to race in Africa before retiring (Image: Getty)
It’s been over three decades since the roar of engines echoed around an African racetrack, but might finally get his wish this year. South Africa and Rwanda are in a bid to win a spot on the 2027 F1 calendar and become the first African hosts of a Grand Prix since 1993.
Between the late 60s and early 90s, the South African Grand Prix was a regular fixture in the F1 season, hosting 21 races in 27 years. However, political and economic strife in the mid-90s meant ‘the Rainbow Nation’ could no longer afford to host the race.
But now it looks as if the event could be set for a comeback, with F1 chiefs planning to expand into Africa. Hamilton, 40, has long been an advocate for an African Grand Prix and has been pushing for it behind the scenes for some time.
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
“I’ve been talking about South Africa and that’s what I’m pushing for in the background so hopefully you’ll see that come to light soon,” Hamilton told in May 2023. “It’s a real big dream for me to race in South Africa, and race in Africa in my career is a huge, huge dream for me.
“I know I have a big following out there and I know a lot of people are into Formula 1 now there so I’m pushing as hard as I can in the background. I’m going high up to make sure we have that race happen.”
A return to South Africa is no guarantee though. Rwanda’s bid, which was officially launched in December, has the backing of Mohammed Ben Sulayem, president of the FIA, who are the governing body for motorsports across the world. “Africa deserves a F1 event and Rwanda is the best place,” Sulayem told .
Alain Prost won the last South African Grand Prix back in 1993 (Image: Getty)
Rwanda, often called ‘the land of a thousand hills’, aims to embrace its unique terrain and natural beauty by constructing a track that will whisk through forests and skirt a pictureesque lake, 25km outside the country’s capital Kigali. It will also include dramatic elevation changes and sharp corners, which described as “amazing”.
Rwanda’s bid might have innovation, but South Africa have history and prestige on their side. They plan to stage the Grand Prix at the historic Kyalami circuit, which hosted 23 F1 races in the past, on the outskirts of Johannesburg.
“We have hosted the World Cup, South Africa is ready, and we will host the best Formula 1 race,” South Africa Minister of Department of Sport, Arts, and Culture Gayton McKenzie told SportsBoom. “South Africa is the greatest country. We want Rwanda to get Formula 1, we want South Africa to get Formula 1, why when it comes to Africa it must be one? Rwanda’s time is here; South Africa’s time is here.”
F1’s return to Africa has been in the works for some time. Over the past decade, efforts to bring the continent back onto the calendar have been proposed, revised, and repeatedly shelved. However, now more than ever it seems closer to becoming a reality.
In August last year, Hamilton insisted that F1 couldn’t continue to “ignore” Africa while expanding to all other corners of the globe. “We can’t be adding races in other locations and continuing to ignore Africa, which the rest of the world just takes from. No one gives anything to Africa,” the seven-time world champion said at the Dutch Grand Prix.
“There’s a huge amount of work needs to be done there. I think a lot of the world that haven’t been there don’t realise how beautiful the place is, how vast it is. And probably they don’t even know what the countries are doing still to those places in terms of holding back.
The latest FIA awards took place in Rwanda, who are bidding for a place on the F1 calendar in 2027 (Image: Getty)
“So I think having a Grand Prix there will really be able to highlight just how great the place is and bring in tourism and all sorts of things.”
Hamilton added: “Rwanda is one of my favourite places I’ve been to, actually. I’ve been doing a lot of work in the background on it, I’ve spoken to people in Rwanda, I’ve spoken to people in South Africa. That’s a longer project, Rwanda. But it’s amazing that they’re so keen to be a part of it.”
Evidently, F1 champion Verstappen shares Hamilton’s excitement about the prospect of an African Grand Prix. “I would like to race in Africa,” he told Sport Africa. “We’re very excited to be on that road.”