Hamilton urges humility over Rwanda Grand Prix amid human rights concerns
Lewis Hamilton welcomed Formula 1’s planned return to Africa but said concerns about Rwanda must not be overlooked as the sport prepares for a race there in the early 2030s.
Lewis Hamilton welcomed Formula 1’s planned return to Africa on Thursday, 22 October, but urged people to approach concerns about a Grand Prix in Rwanda ‘with humility’. Speaking to reporters ahead of the United States Grand Prix in Austin, the Ferrari driver said racing there should not mean overlooking events in the host country.
Hamilton has long called for an African Grand Prix. Formula 1 announced a 10-year agreement with Rwanda the previous week, with a race planned for the early 2030s after a circuit is built, according to Agence France-Presse. The agreement would bring the championship back to Africa for the first time since the 1993 South African Grand Prix.
What Hamilton said about the Rwanda race
‘I don’t get to choose where we go,’ Hamilton said, according to BBC Sport. He said he had seen stories about Rwanda and that people should approach the issue with humility. AFP also reported his remarks and said he expressed reservations about the choice of host while welcoming Formula 1’s return to the continent.
Hamilton said Africa deserved a Grand Prix and framed the race as an opportunity for the continent, rather than for one country alone. He hoped it would encourage people to learn more about Africa and discuss its history. Recalling his education in England, he said he had not been taught about the continent and attributed some of its problems to colonialism and Western intervention.
Why Rwanda’s selection has drawn objections
The Democratic Republic of Congo has filed a case against Rwanda at the International Court of Justice, accusing it of breaching international treaties, BBC Sport reported. Those accusations are before the court; the filing does not establish that Rwanda breached the treaties.
In a statement the previous week, DRC foreign minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner objected to giving Rwanda’s president, Paul Kagame, a platform through the race, according to the BBC. She called on Formula 1 to require independent guarantees that money used to host it would not come from conflict-linked minerals or exploitation of Congolese resources.
Hamilton said going to Rwanda should not mean neglecting what is happening there. He hoped the race would prompt more people to educate themselves and start a conversation, while maintaining his support for a Grand Prix in Africa.
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Sources and context
- Lewis Hamilton addresses concerns on human rights grounds about holding an African Grand Prix in RwandaBBC Sport
- Hamilton sets sights on racing in African grand prixAgence France-Presse, republished by Philstar.com
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.