Kada Sárközi joined GPblog as an editor ahead of the 2023 Formula 1 season. He graduated with a BA in Sports Journalism in the UK and has covered Grands Prix and other F1 events live.
With Formula 1 set to return to Africa, a new destination is set to join the F1 calendar. If the calendar remains capped at 24 race weekends per year, several existing circuits could be at risk of losing their place, as they currently have no contract beyond the 2029 season.
In recent years, including 2027, Formula 1 has consistently scheduled a maximum of 24 rounds per season. Unless the sport decides to expand the calendar, which is currently full until the end of the 2028 season, an existing circuit would have to drop off the schedule to make way for Rwanda.
Which circuits' contracts end before Rwanda would join the F1 calendar?
In 2028, there are three circuits whose contracts are set to expire. The list includes the Mexico City Grand Prix, the Portuguese Grand Prix, and the Singapore Grand Prix. A year later, in 2029, Suzuka Circuit's contract also expires.
In Formula 1's announcement, no exact date was given for the first Grand Prix in Rwanda, stating only that it would take place in the early 2030s. The circuit is scheduled to be ready in 2030, but it may not appear on the Formula 1 calendar until 2031.
ADVERTISEMENT
In that case, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, the Chinese Grand Prix, the São Paulo Grand Prix and the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix could also be at risk of losing their places on the calendar to make way for Rwanda.
| F1 track contracts | |
| Ends in 2028 | Mexico City, Portugal, Singapore |
| Ends in 2029 | Japan |
| Ends in 2030 | Abu Dhabi, Azerbaijan, China, Sao Paulo, Saudi Arabia |
| Ends in 2031 | Belgium (in rotation with Barcelona), Italy, Türkiye |
| Ends in 2032 | Barcelona (in rotation with Belgium), Hungary, Qatar |
| Ends in 2034 | Great Britain, United States |
| Ends in 2035 | Australia, Canada, Monaco, Spain |
| Ends in 2036 | Bahrain |
| Ends in 2037 | Las Vegas |
| Ends in 2040 or 2041 | Rwanda |
| Ends in 2041 | Austria, Miami |
Don’t miss GPblog in Google
Mark us as a preferred source and our articles will appear more often at the top of Top Stories.
Add as a preferred / source on Google
