Hamilton advocates for African Grand Prix as Rwanda discussions progress

Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time Formula One world champion, expressed his full support on Thursday for a Grand Prix in Africa, as discussions with Rwanda about hosting a race gain momentum.

"Why aren't we racing on that continent?" Hamilton questioned when asked about the potential for an African stop on the Formula One circuit.

Formula One's chief executive, Stefano Domenicali, has scheduled a meeting next month with Rwandan officials, who have put forward a "serious" proposal to bring the sport to their country.

The last time Africa hosted a Grand Prix was in 1993, in South Africa. However, Domenicali emphasized that several considerations must be taken into account before moving forward.

"We want to bring Formula One to Africa, but we need to ensure that the investment and strategic plan are right," Domenicali told Motorsport.com.

Hamilton, however, believes that the time is ripe for such an expansion. "It's 100 percent the right moment to bring a race to Africa," he stated.

"We can't keep adding races elsewhere and continue to overlook Africa, a continent that the rest of the world often takes from without giving anything back," Hamilton argued. "A Grand Prix there could showcase just how amazing the place is, boost tourism, and bring various other benefits."

Hamilton also revealed that he has been actively engaged behind the scenes, having discussions with officials in both Rwanda - "one of my favorite places I've ever visited" - and South Africa.

The 39-year-old driver reflected on a recent trip he took during the Formula One summer break, where he traveled across Africa, including visits to refugee camps in collaboration with the UNHCR.

"Unless you've seen it firsthand or talked to someone deeply affected by it, it's hard to grasp the full extent of the refugees' situation," he said, referring to the challenges faced by those in the camps.

The experience has given Hamilton much to ponder regarding his potential contributions after his Formula One career ends. But for now, his priority remains bringing the sport to Africa.

"The current argument is that there might not be a suitable track, but there is at least one ready to go," Hamilton insisted. "In the short term, we should race there and then work on developing something even better."