Source : @F1
AUSTIN — Lewis Hamilton has said Formula 1’s planned return to Africa means he is now “forced” to keep racing for longer, as the seven-time world champion set his sights on a place on the grid at the future African Grand Prix in Rwanda.
Formula 1’s official X account shared the moment from Thursday’s (Oct 22) drivers’ press conference at the Circuit of The Americas with the caption: “Lewis isn’t leaving any time soon”, adding: “Hamilton’s dream to drive in the future African Grand Prix could further extend his legendary run in Formula 1”, alongside the hashtags #F1 and #USGP. The 28-second clip shows Hamilton, in a red Ferrari team shirt, sitting on a red sofa beside Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli.
“I’m looking forward to racing with him longer,” Hamilton said of the championship leader. “I’m now forced to have to stay a lot longer because we have a race in Africa, and that’s been my dream, to be able to race in Africa.” Antonelli chipped in: “You got to do at least the first one!” Hamilton replied: “I have to keep fighting to try and stay fit if I can. If I can still punch out good results over the next year, we’ll keep it going.”
Formula 1 announced on Oct 13 a 10-year agreement for the Formula 1 African Grand Prix, presented by Visit Rwanda, which is set to join the calendar in the early 2030s. The race will be held on a new purpose-built circuit in Bugesera, about 40 kilometres south of the capital, Kigali, next to the new Kigali International Airport, and the track will be built to FIA Grade 1 standards. It will be the sport’s first race in Africa since the South African Grand Prix at Kyalami in 1993. Formula 1 says the inaugural race date will be announced in due course.
Hamilton, 41, has long campaigned for a Grand Prix on the continent. “I’ve been advocating for a race in Africa for many, many years,” he said, according to the official FIA transcript, recalling “countless meetings” with stakeholders and with Formula 1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali, as well as calls with presidents of several African countries. “I think for me, it’s a place that deserves to have a Grand Prix. It’s about more than just one country. It’s about the continent itself,” he said.
The choice of Rwanda has drawn criticism from human rights groups, with Amnesty UK describing the deal as “a sportswashing prize” for the Rwandan authorities, according to The Guardian. Hamilton acknowledged the concerns. “Of course, I don’t get to choose where we go. Naturally, there are problems all over the world today, so I’ve seen many of the stories. But I think we really have to approach it with humility,” he said, adding that going there “doesn’t mean that you neglect the things that are happening there”.
Making it to the first race would take Hamilton deep into his forties. The Guardian reported that he is understood to be contracted to Ferrari until the end of the 2027 season, and that he would be at least in his mid-forties if he continued until 2030. Fernando Alonso, 45, is currently the oldest driver on the grid.
For now, Hamilton’s focus is on Austin. He is third in the drivers’ standings on 229 points, behind Antonelli on 340 and George Russell on 238, and said he had “no idea” whether Ferrari could win this weekend after Red Bull won the past two races. The United States Grand Prix runs from Oct 23 to 25, with qualifying at 4pm local time on Saturday and the 56-lap race starting at 3pm on Sunday, which is 4am on Monday (Oct 26) in Malaysia. The original Formula 1 post can be viewed on X: https://x.com/F1/status/2113421141658271922.
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