Lewis Hamilton wants his F1 career to last long enough to race on African soil when Rwanda hosts the continent's first Grand Prix in decades.
Africa is about to get its Formula 1 moment back, and Lewis Hamilton wants to be on the grid for it. The seven-time world champion has said he hopes to keep racing into the early 2030s so he can compete in the African Grand Prix, calling it a dream to race on the continent.
F1 confirmed last week that Rwanda will host the race under a 10-year agreement. The event will be staged on a purpose-built circuit in Bugesera, about 25 miles south of Kigali. The track has yet to be built, and the first race is pencilled in for the early 2030s. It will be the sport's first return to Africa since Kyalami in South Africa staged a Grand Prix in 1993.
The announcement has not come without controversy. Rwanda's human rights record has drawn criticism, and the decision to take F1 there has been questioned. Hamilton, however, has said he believes it is right for the sport to hold a race in the country.
At 41, Hamilton is already the most decorated driver of his era, and an African Grand Prix gives him another reason to keep going. For a continent that has waited three decades for a home race, having one of the sport's biggest names publicly committed to being there is a powerful endorsement. The track still has to be built, but the destination is now fixed.
