Will Lewis Hamilton be on the grid at the African Grand Prix?
14 October 2026Formula 1 has recently announced that the sport will be returning to the African continent in the early 2030s, marking the first time the championship has raced there since 1993.
One driver who has been particularly outspoken about his enthusiasm for a race in Africa is Lewis Hamilton, so now the question is, will the seven-time World Champion still be around when F1 heads to Rwanda?
What we know about the African Grand Prix
On Tuesday, 13 October, Formula 1 confirmed a 10-year agreement that will see Rwanda host the African Grand Prix, ending an absence of more than three decades from the continent.
The race will take place at a brand-new circuit in Bugesera, approximately 40 kilometres south of Rwanda's capital, Kigali, and close to the country's new international airport.
The purpose-built track will be developed to FIA Grade 1 standards, incorporating the area's natural elevation changes to create a challenging layout for drivers and plenty of opportunities for fans to enjoy the action.
The race will make its debut in the early 2030s, once construction of the new circuit is complete.
What Hamilton has said about the African Grand Prix so far
Hamilton has been one of the most prominent voices calling for Formula 1 to return to Africa, regularly expressing his disappointment that the continent has been absent from the calendar for so long.
The last African Grand Prix took place at Kyalami in South Africa in 1993, eight years after Hamilton was born and 14 years before he made his F1 debut.
Earlier in 2026, the British driver reiterated his determination to compete in Africa before bringing his Formula 1 career to an end, even suggesting he would extend his time in the sport to make it happen.
Hamilton's passion for the continent is also deeply personal. The 41-year-old has spoken proudly about his African heritage, with family roots in countries including Benin, Togo, Senegal and Nigeria.
Will Hamilton still be racing in the 2030s?
Hamilton celebrated his 41st birthday in January 2026, meaning he will be at least 45 years old when the African Grand Prix makes its anticipated debut.
While that might seem like a considerable age for a Formula 1 driver, he only needs to look to old rival Fernando Alonso, currently the oldest driver on the grid at 45, who recently extended his contract with Aston Martin until the end of the 2027 season, when he will be 46.
If Hamilton were to follow a similar path, he could continue racing until at least 2031, increasing his chances of holding a spot on the grid at the inaugural African Grand Prix.
Of course, that means Hamilton would need to maintain the motivation and fitness required to compete in F1, while securing a competitive seat for the years ahead. His current Ferrari contract is rumoured to last until the end of 2027.
Although the African Grand Prix is expected to arrive in the early 2030s, any delays to the circuit's construction could push its debut further into the decade.
Whether Hamilton can stick around long enough to be on the grid in Rwanda remains to be seen, but with Formula 1's return to Africa finally confirmed, the seven-time World Champion has another reason to keep racing.
