Lewis Hamilton has set his sights on staying in Formula 1 into the 2030s so he can fulfil his dream of racing in Africa. Formula 1 recently added an African Grand Prix in Rwanda to its calendar, but it has not confirmed a firm date for the first race, saying only that it will take place in the "early 2030s".
Hamilton, who turns 42 in January, will be 45 at the start of the 2030 season. The seven-time world champion accepts there is no guarantee he will still be on the grid by then, but he is holding on to hope of competing in what would be F1's first race in Africa since 1993. Speaking ahead of the United States Grand Prix, he said: "I'm now forced to stay a bit longer because we have a race in Africa and that has been my dream to race in Africa. So, I'm going to have to keep fighting to stay fit."
Hamilton is in his second season with Ferrari and is contracted with the team until at least the end of 2027, with a possible option for 2028. His longer-term future remains uncertain, though former team-mate Fernando Alonso is set to race for Aston Martin next year at 45, showing what is possible.
The 10-year deal for Rwanda to host the race drew criticism, with Amnesty International calling the agreement "a sportswashing prize for the Rwandan authorities." Hamilton urged that the event be approached "with humility", saying: "I don't get to choose where we go... we really have to approach it with humility." He added that Africa is rarely taught in schools and that many of its problems are still rooted in colonialism and Western intervention.
Source: Sky Sports Champions League · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing