Hamilton urges 'humility' over criticism of planned Formula One race in Rwanda

Lewis Hamilton has said people should "approach it with humility" when weighing human rights criticism of Formula One's planned race in Rwanda.

Formula One has a 10-year agreement with Rwanda to host an African Grand Prix. The first race is expected in the early 2030s. The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not give a specific year. The race has drawn criticism on human rights grounds.

Hamilton is a seven-time world champion who drives for Ferrari. He has campaigned for a Formula One race in Africa for some time. "I don't get to choose where we go. Naturally, there are problems all over the world today, so I've seen many of the stories. But I think we really have to approach it with humility," the BBC quoted him as saying.

Hamilton said he hopes the race will lead people to learn more about Africa. "Going there doesn't mean that you neglect the things that are happening there," he said, according to the BBC. He also called for pushing to "free Congo, free Sudan, free Syria, free Palestine".

Reported details

According to The Guardian, F1 confirmed the deal the week before Hamilton's remarks. The newspaper reported that the race is planned for a purpose-built circuit in Bugesera, 25 miles south of Kigali, which has yet to be built. It would be F1's first race in Africa since Kyalami, South Africa, in 1993.

Speaking before the US Grand Prix, Hamilton said he would like to race for at least another four years so he can compete in Rwanda, The Guardian reported. Hamilton, 41, is understood to be contracted with Ferrari until the end of the 2027 season, according to the newspaper.

What each side says

Hamilton said Africa "deserves to have a grand prix". He said many problems there "are still results of colonialism and the West intervening", according to the BBC.

Felix Jakens, head of campaigns at Amnesty UK, called the race "a sportswashing prize for the Rwandan authorities", according to The Guardian. He said Rwanda's authorities are "prolific in arbitrary detention, torture and the repression of free speech."

The Democratic Republic of Congo's foreign minister, Therese Kayikwamba Wagner, said in a statement quoted by the BBC that "giving (Rwanda President) Paul Kagame this platform would help polish the image of an authoritarian leader whose government has helped fuel a devastating war in our country". She cited US sanctions on the Rwandan army and four senior officers. The reports do not independently document those sanctions. She said F1 should require independent guarantees that no hosting money comes from conflict-linked minerals. According to the BBC, the DRC has filed a case against Rwanda at the International Court of Justice.

The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not include responses from the Rwandan government, the Rwanda Development Board or Formula One.

Analysis

The Rwanda race places Formula One within a wider debate about major sporting events and the records of host governments. Hamilton's position is notable because he has long campaigned for a race in Africa and has also spoken on rights issues. Several questions remain open. Formula One and Rwandan authorities may or may not respond to the criticism or to the DRC's call for funding guarantees. The circuit has yet to be built, and the reports do not describe its timeline or financing. Whether Hamilton races there depends on factors including his results and contract, which the reports do not show Ferrari commenting on.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.