Our Planet Climate and Geopolitics
When Formula One returns to Africa for the first time since South Africa’s Grand Prix in 1993, it looks likely a race will be held in Rwanda. F1 bosses are set to start negotiations with Rwanda, formerly a land of genocide, now a police state.
As part of the bid, a new permanent racetrack is to be built 15 miles outside of its capital, Kigali, close to the country’s new international cricket stadium. Kigali will host F1 officials in December for the FIA’s (Formula One’s governing body) lavish Annual General Assembly and prize giving ceremony, the event’s African debut.
Many will view the country’s newfound love for F1 as sportswashing, given the country’s poor democracy index and reports of human rights abuses. In recent years, Visit Rwanda has controversially sponsored Arsenal, PSG and Bayern Munich.
But F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali said Rwanda has “presented a good plan” and superstar drivers Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton have been keen for an African F1 race, so a route looks open. Other countries already hosting F1 races include Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
