Hamilton welcomes the plan

Lewis Hamilton spoke on Thursday, 22 October, at the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, and praised Formula 1's plan to return to Africa. The 41-year-old Ferrari driver and seven-time world champion said he had advocated for a race in Africa for many years. Formula 1 announced the deal on 13 October in Kigali, a 10-year agreement for a purpose-built circuit in Bugesera, about 25 miles south of the capital. The circuit has yet to be built, and the race is set for the early 2030s without a specific date. Former driver Alex Wurz is designing the track, which aims to use the hilly terrain and altitude changes of the area. Hamilton said the continent itself was the point, and that the culture was worth showing to the world.

“It's about more than just one country. It's about the continent itself.”

A longer career

Hamilton said the prospect of racing in Africa now means he has to stay in the sport longer. He added that he would keep working to stay fit and would continue if he could keep producing good results over the next year.

“I'm now forced to stay a lot longer because we have a race in Africa, and that's been my dream.”

Hamilton has not won a championship since 2020 and currently stands third in the drivers' standings, according to AP. Contract reports differ: the Guardian says he is under contract with Ferrari until the end of the 2027 season, while AP reports at least one year left with an option for 2028. Racing in the early 2030s would put him at least 45 years old, and the Guardian notes that F1's oldest current driver is 45-year-old Fernando Alonso.

Criticism over human rights

Amnesty International has criticised the deal. Felix Jakens, Amnesty UK's head of campaigns, said the race was a sportswashing prize for Rwanda's authorities.

“A 10-year grand prix 'presented by Visit Rwanda' is a sportswashing prize for the Rwandan authorities,”

Rwanda is accused by the DRC, the United States and UN experts of backing the M23 rebels fighting in Congo, an allegation Rwanda denies. Rwanda says its troops in the region are defensive and aim to counter the FDLR militia. The DRC has filed a case against Rwanda at the International Court of Justice, accusing it of breaching treaties on genocide prevention, racial discrimination, women's rights and torture. DRC Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner said in a statement that giving President Paul Kagame a platform would help polish the image of an authoritarian leader. She also pointed out that the US had sanctioned the Rwandan army and four senior officers, and she urged Formula 1 to require credible, independent guarantees that no race money comes from conflict-linked minerals. Hamilton acknowledged these concerns, urging people to approach the issue with humility and saying that going to Rwanda does not mean ignoring what happens there. He also called for more pressure for freedom in Congo, Sudan, Syria and Palestine.

Antonelli and the title race

Kimi Antonelli, the 20-year-old Mercedes driver who replaced Hamilton at the team, could become the sport's youngest champion by winning on Sunday. The Independent reports that Antonelli leads the standings by 102 points with six rounds remaining. Max Verstappen has won the last two races, in Malaysia and Singapore, while Mercedes have struggled with a recent upgrade. Hamilton, asked for advice for Antonelli, joked 'Slow down!' and then praised his talent, saying he has done an amazing job this year and deserves to be champion.