Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen and George Russell have voiced excitement at the possibility of Rwanda hosting a Formula 1 race, amid speculation the African nation could soon join the sport's calendar.
Africa has not hosted an F1 race since the 1993 South African Grand Prix, and Hamilton has pushed hard for the continent's return to the schedule for several years. Reports on Thursday claimed an agreement has been struck and that an announcement could come as soon as next week, confirming Rwanda's addition for the 2030 season.
Asked about the speculation ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix, Hamilton said he had no news to share. "It is, for me, the most important continent, to be honest, the most beautiful continent," he said. "We're on all the other continents but that one and there should be no reason for it." He praised F1 president Stefano Domenicali, who has travelled to Africa many times, saying he hoped Domenicali would have news soon.
Russell said he would be "very excited" if the rumours proved true, recalling how much he enjoyed a recent visit to Africa. Verstappen, a four-time world champion who has previously visited Rwanda, said racing there would be great and that he hoped the plan could be pushed through. Formula 1 already has a 24-race calendar confirmed for 2027, but several hosting deals, including those for Mexico, Singapore and Japan, expire before 2030.
Source: Sky Sports Champions League · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing