Lewis Hamilton has said he hopes to continue his F1 career into the 2030s, long enough to complete his "dream" race at the African GP, which is set to take place in Rwanda after the announcement of a 10-year deal. The Ferrari driver did, however, address human rights concerns surrounding the host country.

An F1 race in Africa has long been on Hamilton's F1 wish list, with the seven-time world champion revealing on Tuesday that he's held "countless" calls and meetings with shareholders and presidents throughout his F1 career to secure the first Grand Prix on the continent since the 1993 South African GP.

The Briton also said he has been"forced to stay a lot longer" by last week's announcement of the Rwanda race - Hamilton will be at least 45 by the time the African GP is held, with no exact date yet pinpointed apart from an early 2030s launch.

“I’m looking forward to racing with him [Kimi Antonelli] longer and we’ll see," Hamilton said during Thursday's driver's press conference. "I mean, 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. So, yes, I have to keep fighting to try and stay fit. If I can still punch out good results over the next year, we'll keep it going."

Hamilton: Africa deserves a Grand Prix

Photo: Race Pictures

The 41-year-old reiterated his strong belief that Africa "deserves to have a Grand Prix," in an optimistic message over the the impact the Rwanda race can have as a force for good.

"I think for me, it's a place that deserves to have a Grand Prix. It's about more than just one country," Hamilton said. "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 get to show that to the world. We get to do that with our sport.

"We get to go to all these different countries, and people see some of these countries they didn't really know too much about. All of a sudden, it becomes something that's on the screen, and kids are talking about it. They go to school talking about it. So, I'm really, really hopeful for that Grand Prix."

Hamilton addresses human rights concerns 

Photo: F1

However, last week's announcement of Rwanda's 10-year race deal was also met with heavy criticism. Amnesty International UK's Head of Campaigns, Felix Jakens, drew particular attention to the African GP's title sponsor, Visit Rwanda, as a "sportswashing prize for the Rwandan authorities," who Jakens said are "prolific in arbitrary detention, torture and the repression of free speech."

The Amnesty head also drew attention to Rwanda's actions on foreign soil, with the United Nations having accused the government of backing the M23 rebel group in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). M23 have previously been accused by Amnesty International of having "committed horrific human rights abuses against artisanal miners... while facilitating the trafficking of gold and coltan to neighbouring Rwanda with the help of Rwandan authorities.”

Hamilton addressed these concerns during Thursday's press conference, initially saying people should "approach it with humility," and that further education about the continent as a whole is also required.

"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. There's a lot that we don't know. Growing up in England, they never taught us anything about Africa. It needs to be on the curriculum.

"A lot of the problems they have there are still results of colonialism and the West intervening. But if you go and see the people, you see so many designs that are out there today from top brands that come from Africa. It's got all the richest resources.

"I really hope, and I still have hope, that Africa unites. I know there are many people who don't want that to happen because they would be so powerful if they did. But I'm still hopeful that at some stage they will."

The former Mercedes driver was eager to conclude that concerns should also not be neglected, with the race a potential opportunity to "spark that conversation. Hamilton said: "Of course, going there doesn't mean that you neglect the things that are happening there. So hopefully many people start to educate themselves a little bit more about what is happening there and what has happened there for hundreds of years.

"I hope that does spark the conversation. And then I guess I'll finish it off with this: I think we need to make sure we're pushing to free Congo, free Sudan, free Syria, free Palestine. I think there's a lot of peace that I'm hoping we get to at some stage."