Formula 1 has not raced in Africa since the 1993 South African Grand Prix. Rwanda is now emerging as a serious contender to end that absence, with a proposed race near Kigali in 2030.

That is an exciting prospect, but there is an important distinction: at the time of this update, a Rwanda Grand Prix had not been officially announced. My expectation is that an announcement could arrive as soon as the following week, possibly midweek. That is my assessment, not confirmation from Formula 1.

Alongside the Rwanda developments, Singapore’s media day delivered plenty of personality, some striking team kit, a rather elaborate Liam Lawson prank, and an FIA explanation of its wet-weather software issues.

What Is Planned for the Rwanda Grand Prix?

The proposed first Rwanda Grand Prix would take place in 2030, around 40 km from Kigali, near the international airport area. The circuit has not yet been built, so there is no completed track to assess.

The design is expected to involve Alex Wurz, head of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, working with Tilke Engineering, Hermann Tilke’s company. The ambition is a fast, flowing layout set among surrounding forests and lakes.

That setting is one of the most intriguing parts of the proposal. A circuit with a genuine sense of place could give the event its own identity, rather than feeling like another interchangeable addition to the calendar.

• Proposed debut: 2030.
• Location: Approximately 40 km from Kigali.
• Design collaboration: Alex Wurz and Tilke Engineering.
• Layout ambition: Fast and flowing, with forests and lakes forming part of the surroundings.
• Outstanding requirement: Construction and compliance with FIA circuit requirements.

The project is understood to sit within a broader infrastructure push, with estimates ranging from US$270 million to US$1.2 billion. That is a very wide range, and it should not be mistaken for a settled circuit construction budget.

With roughly 4 years available before the proposed debut, there is time to deliver the venue. Even so, a target date and a design ambition are not the same as a finished, approved Formula 1 circuit.

Why Rwanda, and What About South Africa?

South Africa remains the destination many F1 fans would love to see return, particularly through the plans involving Kyalami. Its population of roughly 63 million is considerably larger than Rwanda’s approximately 14 million, but population alone does not determine whether a Grand Prix proposal succeeds.

Rwanda has already built a visible connection with international motorsport. It hosted the FIA awards ceremony in 2024, something that initially struck me as an unusual choice. In the context of its F1 ambitions, that decision makes much more sense.

President Paul Kagame has also attended races, including Singapore and Azerbaijan, and is a strong supporter of bringing Formula 1 to Rwanda. Those appearances point to sustained interest rather than a proposal that has appeared from nowhere.

Could Africa eventually have 2 races, one in Rwanda and another in South Africa? It is an appealing possibility, but it remains speculation. A Rwanda event would not, by itself, establish what happens to South Africa’s ambitions.

My own experience of Rwanda left a strong impression. It is remarkably green, and spending time with mountain gorillas was fascinating. I also needed treatment for an infected foot during that trip, which a hospital in Kigali dealt with for US$17. That is a personal experience, not a general guide to medical costs, but it is one of those details that stays with you.

My hope is that the eventual circuit reflects its African setting. I cannot yet say exactly what that should look like, but I would love the finished venue to feel unmistakably connected to the country around it.

Kimi Antonelli Brings Some Fun to Media Day

Singapore was hot and sweaty, but Kimi Antonelli appeared to be thoroughly enjoying himself. His interactions with Sky Italia around the Mercedes hospitality area were exactly the sort of relaxed moments I love photographing.

At one point, he deliberately drew attention to Ricardo, a lawyer who works with him, Sergio Pérez, and other drivers. Ricardo apparently prefers not to have attention lavished on him, which made him an irresistible target for Kimi’s teasing.

Kimi also had Mara’s phone in his hands for a moment. I could not tell what he was doing with it, so I will not pretend to know. It might have ended up on social media, but the useful observation is simply how playful and comfortable he seemed.

Mercedes had fresh kit for the Singapore weekend, including shirts with a flower emblem, a sparkly purple cap, and coordinated Adidas footwear. Even the socks had their own schedule.

The allocation was 4 pairs: 2 purple pairs and 2 pale pairs that the team described as blue, although they looked white to me. The plan was purple on Friday, pale blue on Saturday, and purple again on Sunday.

Add in Kimi’s collection of bracelets, and there was plenty of detail to capture. More importantly, there was personality. Drivers being this excitable and good-humored make paddock photography much more enjoyable.

Liam Lawson’s Earpiece Prank Takes Over the Paddock

Liam Lawson was involved in a brilliantly silly Sky Sports segment. The setup was simple: he wore a tiny earpiece and received instructions from Arvid Lindblad about what to do around the paddock.

Simon Lazenby was also involved, communicating by radio, with roughly 10 Sky personnel helping put the stunt together. The earpiece was so discreet that I did not notice it until well into the encounter.

I had been given a little warning that Liam might borrow my camera and take some photographs. Instead, he appeared in front of me and asked to try on my hat. I removed my sunglasses from it, handed it over, and photographed the result. It took me about 10 seconds to work out what was happening.

His instructions then took him into the Mercedes garage, prompting a wonderfully incredulous reaction from Mercedes’ Karl Fanson. Liam subsequently interrupted Charles Leclerc during an interview, took his microphone, and headed off with it.

Charles quickly recognized that something was being staged for social media. Liam eventually returned the microphone, so the interruption ended in good spirits.

Naomi Schiff later joined Arvid, Liam, and Simon for a laugh about the whole exercise. These segments work best when the drivers commit to the absurdity, and Liam certainly did that.

From my side, the surprise was genuine. I was concentrating on Liam and missed the crew around him. Knowing that something might happen is quite different from recognizing the stunt while it is unfolding right in front of your lens.

Audi’s New Look and Carlos Sainz’s Reflex Test

Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto arrived together in a striking new Audi and posed for photographs outside the paddock. Later, the more interesting visual detail was waiting around the garage: a different car livery, with light blue prominent in the design, and matching race suits.

I think the combination looks sensational. A new livery and coordinated suits give photographers something fresh to work with, and I was looking forward to capturing them on track.

Carlos Sainz, meanwhile, was testing his reactions by trying to catch a falling ruler. I could not identify his opponent, but Carlos appeared to win by about 4 or 5 cm.

The test makes reaction speed visible in a very simple way: the quicker the catch, the less distance the ruler travels.

Another Carlos detail made me laugh. His trainer’s luggage carried a tiny Carlos figure, complete with bendy arms and an exaggerated face. It was a small thing, but precisely the kind of paddock detail that is easy to miss when all the attention is on the cars.

Tzuyu Joins Williams in Singapore

Taiwanese pop star Tzuyu was a Williams guest during media day. Her name generated plenty of discussion about pronunciation, but there was no uncertainty about the attention her appearance attracted.

Williams’ connection with the Japanese anime DAN DA DAN was part of the context for her visit, with a theme song involving Tzuyu described as planned for release the following year.

She was remarkably good-natured with the media, posing in the Williams garage entrance and taking part in an activity with Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz on the hospitality deck. I could not establish exactly what that activity was, but all 3 seemed to be enjoying it.

There was also a useful photography lesson in the garage pictures. A crew member noticed that someone cleaning the floor was visible in the background. Once the background was cleared, the composition became much cleaner.

A good photograph depends on the background as well as the subject. Even with a famous guest standing in front of you, a distracting detail can pull attention away from the picture you are trying to make.

The FIA Explains Its Wet-Weather Software Issue

The FIA issued a statement addressing the recent wet-weather software problems. Its explanation centered on cars running at low engine RPM in sectors where a 250 kW power reduction had been applied.

The practical message for Singapore was that, if similar wet conditions were expected, the relevant configuration would be applied across all cars to prevent a repeat.

The statement also challenged suggestions that the software had been deployed without testing. The FIA outlined 2 stages of validation:

1. Teams and power unit manufacturers conducted simulation exercises to validate the software package.
2. The package was subsequently tested in full-scale running during free practice at the Belgian and Dutch Grands Prix.

That distinction matters. A problem occurring during competition does not automatically mean the system was never tested.

My impression was that this part of the statement responded to remarks made by a Sky Sports commentator. However, that is my interpretation; the statement’s substantive point was the testing history it set out.

Rain looked more likely to be a factor for Saturday’s sprint than for the main Grand Prix, making the wet-weather explanation particularly relevant to the weekend ahead.

Fan Access, Late Nights, and Singapore’s Humidity

One disappointing development concerned the fan waiting area outside the paddock. In previous years, supporters had been able to stand closer to the entrance and catch drivers arriving or leaving. This time, they had been moved farther back.

Two supporters explained that they had waited patiently before security told them they could not remain in their original position. They also said they had been threatened with police involvement if they stayed.

I could not establish why the arrangement had changed. What was clear was that the new position made driver encounters less likely, because drivers had more opportunity to avoid the waiting area altogether.

That is a shame. These people were giving up hours of their day for a small chance of meeting their favorite drivers. Sensible access arrangements can make an enormous difference to the experience without requiring anything elaborate.

Inside the paddock, Singapore’s night-race timetable brings a different challenge. Sunday’s work can continue well past midnight, and some younger drivers and team personnel described moving bedtime later by about 1 hour each night through the week to align more closely with European time.

Fernando Alonso had a characteristically blunt response when I asked whether he followed that approach. His view was that a fast car makes the meaningful difference, and that elaborate sleep adjustments were more of a concern for the younger drivers.

It was a wonderfully Fernando answer. Not everyone in the paddock approaches the late schedule in the same way.

The weekend promised both a sprint and the main Grand Prix, with heat and rising humidity adding to the workload. The forecast showed temperatures around 31°C to 32°C. Personally, I would have welcomed conditions about 5°C cooler and a little more breeze.

The finished photographs rarely convey just how sticky Singapore can be. Behind those clean paddock portraits and floodlit racing images is a very warm working environment.

Between Rwanda’s proposed place on the future calendar and Singapore’s immediate mix of racing, technical questions, and paddock personality, there was plenty to be excited about. The key distinction remains simple: Rwanda’s 2030 race is an anticipated development, not yet an officially confirmed Grand Prix.