Hamilton Urges F1 to Embrace Africa Eyes Rwanda GP

Hamilton advocates for F1’s expansion into Africa, highlighting Rwanda’s potential to host a Grand Prix.

Lewis Hamilton has stated that Formula 1 cannot “continue to ignore Africa” as it expands into new regions, and efforts to host a Grand Prix in Rwanda are gathering pace.

Formula 1 CEO, Stefano Domenicali, is set to meet with Rwandan representatives in September about hosting a future Grand Prix on a permanent circuit rather than a street layout.

Hamilton, a longstanding advocate for F1’s return to Africa, asserted that the continent must be included in the series’ future expansion plans.

“We cannot add races in other places and continue to ignore Africa while the rest of the world exploits this continent. No one is giving anything back to Africa,” Hamilton remarked at Zandvoort this Thursday.

“There’s a tremendous amount of work to be done there. I think many people who have never visited do not realize the beauty and vastness of the place.”

“I believe hosting a Grand Prix there would showcase the beauty of the place and draw tourism and all sorts of things, so why are we not on this continent?”

Hamilton questioned if “the current excuse might be that there is no ready track, but there is at least one that is [Kyalami].”

Regarding Rwanda, Hamilton stated it was “one of my favourite places that I’ve visited.”

“I’ve done a lot of background work and spoken to people in Rwanda and South Africa, and it’s a long-term project in Rwanda, but it’s incredible that they are so eager to secure a Grand Prix.”

Indeed, for the second consecutive year, Hamilton has travelled to Africa during the summer break to delve into the continent’s culture and history, visiting Morocco, Senegal, Benin, Mozambique, and Madagascar.

“I’m still processing the trip; I visited a refugee camp to see the work being done there and how people are displaced.”

“It’s one thing to read about these things or see them on the news, but to actually see it and speak to children who walk 10 kilometers to school to get an education, then 10 kilometers back and don’t have a meal at school, can’t eat during the day, they have a really tough life there, and it’s mostly women and children who are most affected.”

“There weren’t many men there because they are either killed or taken to different conflict zones. It was really hard to see and experience, and then in Senegal and seeing the slave areas just to see what the country has gone through and it’s such a beautiful place. All these experiences add to my compass of what I want to do in the future.”