A child learning to drive a kart in Kigali today could one day become a Formula 1 driver, an automotive engineer or a technician working for one of the world’s leading racing teams. That is among the ambitions behind Rwanda’s agreement to host the African Grand Prix.
President Paul Kagame and FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem say the return of Formula 1 to Africa must create opportunities for young people to participate in the sport, rather than simply watch international drivers compete.
Speaking during the announcement in Kigali on Tuesday, Kagame said Africa’s involvement in global sport should extend beyond supplying talent and consuming entertainment.
“We want to contribute, not just participate, and this new chapter in motorsports starts today,” he said.
He explained that international sporting partnerships should support infrastructure development, skills acquisition and new economic activities.
Ben Sulayem went further, outlining plans to expand grassroots motorsport programmes in Rwanda and other African countries before the first Grand Prix takes place in the early 2030s.
“We must never forget that the future of motorsport begins at the grassroots,” he said.
He pointed to Rwanda’s involvement in cross-car racing and karting, two disciplines that can introduce young people to competitive driving, vehicle handling and motorsport safety.
Karting is particularly important because it is the traditional starting point for many professional racing drivers.
Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, Fernando Alonso and several other Formula 1 champions began competing in karts as children before progressing through junior racing categories. However, the journey from karting to Formula 1 is expensive.
A competitive international karting programme can require tens of thousands of dollars annually, while progression through Formula 4, Formula Regional, Formula 3 and Formula 2 can involve substantially greater expenditure.
At the higher levels, a single season may require hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars, depending on the championship, team, equipment and available sponsorship.
These costs create barriers for aspiring African drivers, particularly in countries without established racing circuits, specialist coaching or strong commercial sponsorship. Ben Sulayem said the FIA intends to make entry-level motorsport more accessible.
“We are doing the same thing for our karting, a powerful symbol of the FIA’s determination to make motorsport more accessible, and to develop local talent, and also to create new opportunities for young people across Africa.”
The federation plans to support affordable karting programmes alongside cross-car racing and technical education. The objective is to build a foundation for motorsport before Rwanda hosts its first Formula 1 race. Ben Sulayem said the FIA would remain engaged throughout the preparation period.
“We will not just wait for the Formula 1 to come, but the FIA will be there from today till then, educating and training and also supporting with the cross cars and with the karts.” The opportunity extends beyond producing professional racing drivers.
Formula 1 is one of the world’s most technically demanding sporting competitions, requiring expertise in mechanical engineering, aerodynamics, electronics, artificial intelligence, data analytics, telecommunications and advanced manufacturing.
Teams employ engineers, mechanics, software developers, strategists and technical specialists who analyse enormous quantities of information to improve vehicle performance and race decisions.
For Rwanda, this creates opportunities to connect motorsport development with technical and vocational education.
Institutions such as the University of Rwanda, Rwanda Polytechnic and Carnegie Mellon University Africa could potentially contribute through engineering research, student projects, software development and technical training partnerships.
No specific agreements involving these institutions have been announced, but their existing academic programmes offer a possible foundation for collaboration. The commercial scale of Formula 1 illustrates the importance of the technical expertise supporting the championship.
In 2025, Formula 1 generated approximately $3.87 billion in revenue, an increase of 14 percent from 2024, according to Liberty Media’s financial results. Operating income reached $632 million.
The championship also attracted a combined 6.75 million spectators across its 24 race weekends in 2025, demonstrating the scale of the international industry that supports the competition.
For young Rwandans, access to this industry could eventually mean careers in engineering, automotive technology, event production, logistics and sports management.
Ben Sulayem recalled an encounter between Max Verstappen and young motorsport enthusiasts in Kigali during the FIA awards programme in December 2024.
Verstappen, then the reigning Formula 1 world champion, participated in a grassroots motorsport activity after receiving a community service sanction from the FIA.
Ben Sulayem said he had deliberately wanted the penalty to produce a positive outcome. “We don’t need the money; what we need is public service,” he recalled telling those involved.
He said Verstappen travelled directly from the airport to meet young participants at the track, where he interacted with them and discussed motorsport.
The encounter demonstrated how international racing personalities could help introduce African children to opportunities they might otherwise consider beyond their reach. But occasional visits by famous drivers will not be enough.
Developing a sustainable motorsport industry will require qualified instructors, affordable equipment, regular competitions, scholarships, sponsorship programmes and technical training facilities.
Kagame said Rwanda’s wider ambition is to help change Africa’s position in international sport. “Sports is a great equalizer, but we have to be intentional about delivering this promise,” he said.
With Formula 1 reporting more than 100 million followers across Africa, including a predominantly young audience in key sub-Saharan markets, the potential demand for grassroots programmes is considerable.
The African Grand Prix could provide an important platform for developing that talent.
Whether the next generation produces Formula 1 drivers, engineers or entrepreneurs, Rwanda’s challenge will be to ensure that young Africans have a realistic opportunity to participate in the industry long before the first race begins.
