Hamilton eyes staying in F1 into 2030s to race in African GP
Lewis Hamilton has set his sights on staying in Formula 1 into the 2030s in order to fulfil his dream of racing in Africa.
Formula 1 recently announced a 10-year deal for Rwanda to host an African Grand Prix that will begin in the "early 2030s"; watch every United States GP session live on Sky Sports F1, with qualifying at 10pm on Saturday and the race at 8pm on Sunday
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Lewis Hamilton has set his sights on staying in Formula 1 into the 2030s in order to fulfil his dream of racing in Africa.
Formula 1 last week announced the addition to its calendar of an African Grand Prix in Rwanda but did not provide a firm date for the first staging of the event, saying instead it will take place in the "early 2030s".
Hamilton, who turns 42 in January, will be 45 at the start of F1's 2030 season. Despite the seven-time world champion accepting there is no guarantee he will still be on the grid at that stage, he is retaining hope of competing in what will be the sport's first race in Africa since 1993.
Speaking ahead of this weekend's United States Grand Prix, Hamilton said: "I'm now forced to stay a bit longer because we have a race in Africa and that has been my dream to race in Africa.
"So, I'm going to have to keep fighting to stay fit. If I can keep punching out results over the next years, we will keep it going."
Hamilton is driving his second season for Ferrari and is known to have a contract with the team until at least the end of the 2027, with a potential option to remain with the Italian squad in 2028 too.
His future beyond that point with Ferrari and in F1 remains uncertain, but Hamilton's former team-mate Fernando Alonso has shown what's possible, with the Spaniard set to embark on another season with Aston Martin next year at the age of 45.
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The announcement of a 10-year deal for Rwanda to host the event was met with criticism from some quarters, with Amnesty International labelling the agreement as "a sportswashing prize for the Rwandan authorities."
Appearing to react to some of the criticism that followed the announcement, Hamilton launched a passionate plea for the new event to be approached "with humility".
"I don't get to choose where we go," Hamilton said. "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.
"There's a lot that we don't know. Growing up in England, they never taught us anything about Africa. It needs to be on the curriculum. A lot of the problems they have there are still results of colonialism and the West intervening.
"But if you go and see the people, you see so many designs that are out there today from top brands that come from Africa. It's got all the richest resources. I really hope, and I still have hope, that Africa unites. I know there are many people who don't want that to happen because they would be so powerful if they did. But I'm still hopeful that at some stage they will.
"And, yeah, of course, going there doesn't mean that you neglect the things that are happening there. So hopefully many people start to educate themselves a little bit more about what is happening there and what has happened there for hundreds of years. I hope that does spark the conversation.
"And then I guess I'll finish it off with this: I think we need to make sure we're pushing to free Congo, free Sudan, free Syria, free Palestine. I think there's a lot of peace that I'm hoping we get to at some stage."
'Visit Rwanda' are front-of-shirt sponsor for Aston Villa, having signed a multi-year deal worth £20m a season in the summer. The move was criticised by Amnesty International as "sportswashing" by the country to deflect from its human rights record.
DR Congo has accused Rwanda of arming rebel groups and committing human rights breaches and last year urged Arsenal, PSG and Bayern Munich to review their deals with the country in 2025.
Arsenal ended their eight-year deal with Rwanda at the end of last season after pressure from supporter groups . The club's LGBTQ+ group, the Gay Gooners, told Sky Sports News at the time that it had raised concerns with Arsenal over the partnership since 2021.
PSG extended their deal with Rwanda until 2028, while Bayern ended their commercial deal but extended a deal to focus on an academy in the country.
Felix Jakens, Amnesty International UK's head of campaigns, said in a statement: "Rwanda is buying into the world's biggest sports to polish its image and deflect from its appalling human rights record.
"A 10-year Grand Prix 'presented by Visit Rwanda' is a sportswashing prize for the Rwandan authorities.
"Arsenal, Aston Villa, the cycling world championships and now Formula 1 - Rwanda is buying into the world's biggest sports to polish its image and deflect from its appalling human rights record.
"Formula 1 says sport can be 'a positive force for good'. That rings hollow if F1 shrugs off who it is partnering with. Rwanda's authorities are prolific in arbitrary detention, torture and the repression of free speech - these are abuses at home.
"Beyond its borders, we are seeing bloodshed in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Rwanda is playing a significant role in fuelling the conflict and related human rights abuses - both through its support to the M23 armed group and the direct actions of Rwanda's military in eastern Congo.
"Formula 1 must not be a bystander. It should use its influence with the Rwandan authorities to push for change, rather than lend its brand to a PR exercise."
Saturday October 24 6.15pm: United States Grand Prix Practice Three (session starts at 6.30pm) 8.30pm: United States Grand Prix Qualifying build-up* 10pm: UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX QUALIFYING* 12am: F1 Academy Race 2* 12.45am: Ted's Qualifying Notebook*
Sunday October 25 5pm: F1 Academy Race 3 6.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: United States GP build-up* 8pm: THE UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX* 10pm: Chequered Flag: United States GP reaction 11pm: Ted's Notebook
Formula 1 heads to The Americas for another triple-header with the United States Grand Prix in Austin up first this weekend, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime
