Sports · Motorsport · 6 hrs ago
Hamilton calls for peace as Rwanda prepares to host African Grand Prix
At a US Grand Prix press conference, Lewis Hamilton called for freedom and peace in Congo, Sudan, Syria and Palestine.
He was responding to a question about Rwanda hosting a Formula One race, which would return the sport to Africa for the first time since 1993.
The race is planned for the early 2030s, though accounts differ on whether it is due to begin in 2030 or around 2032.
Human rights concerns surround the planned Rwanda race; the United Nations and Western governments accuse Rwanda of backing M23 rebels in neighbouring Congo, while Rwanda denies supporting the insurgency.
Hamilton said the sport should not ignore concerns about Rwanda and argued that schools should teach more about Africa and the effects of colonialism and Western intervention.
He hopes the race will prompt more people to learn about the region, while maintaining that Africa deserves to host a Grand Prix.
Lewis Hamilton called for peace and urged people to “free Congo, free Sudan, free Syria, free Palestine” while discussing the planned Rwanda Grand Prix.
He said Africa deserves a Grand Prix but that hosting a race should not mean ignoring events in Rwanda or elsewhere on the continent.
Hamilton said people should learn more about Africa’s history and the effects of colonialism and Western intervention.
The race is intended to return Formula One to Africa for the first time since 1993.
The articles differ on its expected start: GPFans says 2030 onward, while the Daily Mail says approximately 2032.
- Who
- Lewis Hamilton, a seven-time world champion, made the comments. Amnesty International campaign head Felix Jakens also criticized the planned race.
- What
- Hamilton called for peace and discussed concerns about Rwanda hosting an African Grand Prix.
- When
- He spoke at a pre-race press conference on Thursday, ahead of the US Grand Prix. The articles were published on 23 October 2026.
- Where
- The comments were made at the US Grand Prix. The planned race is in Rwanda.
- Why
- Hamilton was asked about an African country being awarded a Grand Prix and acknowledged concerns about Rwanda’s human rights record.
Lewis Hamilton
Amnesty International
Race in Rwanda
Lewis Hamilton
Hamilton said Africa deserves a Grand Prix and that going there should not mean neglecting events in the region.
Amnesty International
Amnesty’s Felix Jakens criticized the race award as a “sportswashing prize” and said Rwanda uses major sports to polish its image and deflect from its human rights record.
Africa last hosted a Grand Prix, in Kyalami, South Africa.
The planned return of Formula One to Africa, with Rwanda as host, was announced.
Hamilton discussed the Rwanda race and called for peace at a pre-race press conference.
The articles give different expected start dates for the Rwanda Grand Prix.
- Last African Grand Prix
- 1993, Kyalami, South Africa
- Planned host
- Rwanda
- Expected start
- 2030 onward according to GPFans; approximately 2032 according to the Daily Mail
- Deal length
- 10 seasons, according to the Daily Mail
- Hamilton’s call
- Free Congo, Sudan, Syria and Palestine
2 sources
What people are saying
It's about more than just one country. It's about the continent itself, and there are so many beautiful countries within it.
I think we need to make sure we're pushing to free Congo, free Sudan, free Syria, free Palestine.
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.
Rwanda is buying into the world's biggest sports to polish its image and deflect from its appalling human rights record.