Lewis Hamilton has admitted to having mixed feelings about Formula 1’s decision to revive the African Grand Prix in Rwanda. Earlier this month, the sport's return to the continent was officially confirmed after Rwanda agreed to a lucrative 10-year deal starting in the early 2030s to host a grand prix for the first time since 1993.
However, the announcement of the race has not come without controversy, with Formula 1 being accused of offering Rwanda a sports washing prize by various human rights groups who have strongly opposed the ongoing deal amid regional tensions.
The Democratic Republic of Congo previously filed a case against Rwanda earlier this year, accusing its neighbor of breaching multiple international treaties. DR Congo stated that Rwanda had dispatched forces and backed armed groups to carry out unlawful military operations on its territory.
Hamilton has famously been leading calls for Formula 1 to return to Africa, but the seven-time world champion appeared to harbor conflicting emotions as he acknowledged mounting criticism surrounding the race ahead of the United States Grand Prix weekend.
Addressing the media during a press conference on Thursday in Austin, the Ferrari driver shared his thoughts on the complex situation. Of course I don’t get to choose where we go and naturally there’s problems all over the world today, Hamilton stated to the assembled journalists.
He further elaborated on the historical context, noting, 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 ever 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.
Despite the challenges, the British driver pointed out the immense potential and resources embedded within the continent. But if you see the people, you see so many designs that are out there today, top brands come from Africa and it’s got all the richest resources, he remarked.
I really hope, and I still have hopes, that Africa unites. I know there’s many people that 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, Hamilton expressed with evident optimism for the future.
Of course, going 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, what has happened there for hundreds of years and I hope that does spark the conversation, he added.
Concluding his remarks with a broad humanitarian appeal, the veteran racer stated his desire for global harmony. I guess I’ll finish it off with: 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 that at some stage we get to.
In addition to his social commentary, Hamilton detailed how he has been actively lobbying leading motorsport figures, including F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, over recent years during his persistent push to bring the world championship back to African soil.
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