Hamilton wants F1 career to stretch into 2030s for African Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton has said he wants to keep racing in Formula One long enough to compete in the African Grand Prix, a race now scheduled for Rwanda in the early 2030s.

The seven-time world champion made the comments in Austin ahead of this weekend's United States Grand Prix, according to Guardian Formula One, which reported that he backs the sport's decision to race in the country despite criticism of its human rights record.

F1 confirmed last week that it had signed a 10-year agreement to stage the race on a purpose-built circuit in Bugesera, roughly 25 miles south of the capital Kigali. The venue has yet to be built, with the inaugural race pencilled in for the early 2030s. It would mark the sport's first visit to the African continent since the 1993 South African Grand Prix at Kyalami.

"I'm now forced to have to stay a lot longer because we have a race in Africa and that's been my dream to be able to race in Africa," Hamilton said. "So, I have to keep fighting to try and stay fit if I can. If I can still punch out good results over the next year, we'll keep it going."

Hamilton, 41, is understood to be contracted to Ferrari until the end of the 2027 season. Reaching a race in the early 2030s would mean extending his career by roughly four more years beyond that, taking him into his mid-40s. F1's current oldest driver is 45-year-old Fernando Alonso.

The award of the race to Rwanda has drawn criticism as an act of sportswashing given the country's human rights record, though Hamilton's remarks indicate he views the return to Africa as worth pursuing regardless.

His comments came in the build-up to the 18th round of the 2026 season, with practice and qualifying at Circuit of the Americas running on Friday and Saturday before Sunday's race, which Yahoo Sports reported is scheduled for 4pm ET. Max Verstappen won the corresponding race at the same Austin venue in 2025.

Guardian Formula One also reported that 18-year-old British driver Freddie Slater is set to make his Formula One free practice debut for Audi, a reminder of the younger talent emerging as Hamilton weighs how much longer he can extend his own career.

Attention in Austin now turns to Sunday's race at Circuit of the Americas, with Hamilton's longer-term future, and F1's first African race in more than three decades, both still to play out.