F1 in Africa Confirmed: What To Look Forward To in Rwanda

Finally, the Formula 1 grid is returning to Africa! 

Since last racing here during the 1993 Panasonic South African Grand Prix, F1 could return to the continent as early as 2030. The sport has agreed on a 10-year deal to race in Rwanda, where they'll be building a brand-new track.

With our excitement going through the roof, we thought of several early storylines that F1 fans should look forward to when F1 visits Rwanda.

The new track in Rwanda's capital, Kigali, will be created by two track design companies. Former F1 driver Alex Wurz's WurzDesign and Hermann Tilke's Tilke Engineers and Architects will collaborate in designing the circuit. 

Tilke brings decades of circuit design experience, having developed the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia, the Bahrain International Circuit, the Shanghai International Circuit in China, and Istanbul Park in Turkey, among many others. 

Meanwhile, WurzDesign is behind the ongoing development of the new Qiddiya track in Saudi Arabia. Most importantly, Wurz is a former racing driver who knows a thing or two about what drivers love in a racing track.

Motorsport fans should expect a track with a generous amount of overtaking opportunities. 

And I'll say this on behalf of everyone: just don't make it like the Madring Circuit, please.

Expect the race weekend to be a festival of colors, culture, and hospitality. 

In their official announcement, F1 mentioned Visit Rwanda in presenting the new African GP. Because the race sits next to a new international airport, the whole event could be centered around Visit Rwanda's burst of color and local design.  

Those who will attend the race live could combine practice, qualifying, and the main race with a visit to Kigali's restaurants, cafes, museums, and cultural attractions. Expect live Afrobeats and Rwandan drumming acts in this music-loving capital of Rwanda.

Oh, and the Rwandan coffee and tea? A chef's kiss for this event. 

Lewis Hamilton was one of the sport's ardent proponents of F1's return to Africa. The Ferrari driver represents the British flag when he races, but his father is also of Afro-Grenadian descent. 

The seven-time World Champion says that he has always advocated for F1 to have a Grand Prix in Africa. He mentioned that there's "no reason" why Africa is not on the current F1 calendar. 

However, Hamilton will turn 42 in January next year. By the time the grid returns to Africa, he'll be 45. How close is the Briton to retiring? Could he put retirement on the back burner until he achieves the milestone of racing in Africa?

Reports say that F1 will return to the V8 engines in 2030, although no official agreement has been put on paper yet. The current regulations will only run their course through 2029, which means that new regs will be in place by the time F1 returns to Africa.

When we last raced in Africa in 1993, two teams used the V8 engine on their car. The Ford-Cosworth HBD 3.5 V8 powered Ayrton Senna's McLaren and Michael Schumacher's Benetton.

It would be exhilarating to see (and hear) the V8 engines roaring through the continent again.