Kimi Antonelli demands of Lewis Hamilton: “You absolutely must do this!”

In four years’ time, it’s set to happen – the first Formula 1 World Championship race in Africa since the 1993 South African Grand Prix at Kyalami. A new circuit is to be built in Rwanda for the occasion.

Here in the paddock at the Circuit of the Americas in Texas, Lewis Hamilton was asked what this meant to him. Before the most successful Formula 1 driver could even reply, Kimi Antonelli turned to the Briton and said: “Well, you absolutely must drive in at least the first race there!”

Even Hamilton was speechless for a moment. Perhaps he did a quick calculation and then realised: by then he’ll be 45 years old (the same age as Fernando Alonso is today).

Hamilton on the subject of the African Grand Prix: “I’ve been campaigning for a race in Africa for many, many years. There have been numerous meetings with the F1 rights holders, so many meetings with series CEO Stefano Domenicali in his office in London, but also at race weekends, and countless phone calls.”

“I’ve said time and again: ‘What’s happening now? Where are we going? Who are you meeting?’ Lots of meetings with various presidents from different countries. Lots of phone calls with various presidents from different African countries.”

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“For me, it has always been a place that deserves to host a Grand Prix. It’s about so much more than just one country. It’s about the continent itself, and there are so many beautiful countries within it.”

“The people are so lovely. The culture is so rich, and I think it’s important that we show that to the world. We can do that through our sport.”

“We get to travel to all these different places with Formula 1, and people get to see some of these countries they didn’t know much about. Suddenly it becomes something you see on screen, and children talk about it. They go to school and talk about it.”

“So, I’m really hopeful about this Grand Prix. Of course, I can’t decide where we go. Of course, there are problems all over the world today, so I’ve seen many of the stories. But I think we really need to approach this with humility.”

“There’s a lot we don’t know. When I was growing up in England, they never taught us anything about Africa. It needs to be part of the curriculum. Many of the problems they face there are still the result of colonialism and Western intervention.”

“But when you see the people there, you see so many designs that are now produced by top brands and originate from Africa. It has all the richest resources. I really hope – and I still have hope – that Africa will unite.”

“I know there are many people who don’t want that to happen, because they’d be so powerful if they did. But I’m still hopeful that they’ll do it one day. And yes, of course, going there doesn’t mean turning a blind eye to the things that are happening there.”

“So hopefully lots of people will start to find out a bit more about what’s happening there and what has been happening there for hundreds of years. I hope that this will spark discussion. And then we must press for the liberation of the Congo, the liberation of Sudan, the liberation of Syria, the liberation of Palestine. I think there is a great deal of peace that I hope we will achieve one day.”