Seven-time Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton has renewed his call for freedom for Palestine when pressed on the controversial decision to award a Grand Prix to Rwanda. The 41-year-old is the only Black competitor in the motorsport and said an African race would make people more aware of the continent, but recognised there were concerns and used the issue to expand on his stance on humanitarian issues across the world. Human rights campaigners Amnesty International recently accused Formula One of hollow words and offering Rwanda a “sportswashing prize” – an accusation levelled at countries perceived to be using sport to improve a tarnished image abroad.
Hamilton, who was speaking before Sunday’s US Grand Prix, has long called for a Gaza ceasefire amid Israel’s genocidal war and returned to the matter – as well as other conflicts – when asked about a Grand Prix in Rwanda. Neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) joined the criticism of Formula One’s decision to award a race to Rwanda, which is accused by the DRC, the United States and United Nations experts of backing the M23 rebels fighting in the DRC. But I think we really have to approach it with humility.
I hope that does spark the conversation. It needs to be on the curriculum. The Ferrari driver will be 42 in January and has a contract for 2027.
Fernando Alonso, the oldest active F1 driver, is 45 and recently signed up for another season with Aston Martin. If I can still punch out good results over the next year, we’ll keep it going.” Antonelli, who replaced Hamilton at Mercedes last season and is still only 20 years old, encouraged him: “You got to do at least the first one.” Hamilton, the sport’s first and only Black champion, has long campaigned for a race in Africa – a continent that last hosted a race at South Africa’s Kyalami circuit in 1993 – and spoke of his efforts. Who are you meeting with?’ “Many meetings with different presidents from different countries.
Lots of phone calls with different presidents from different countries within Africa,” he recalled. It’s about more than just one country. It’s about the continent itself.”
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