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Lewis Hamilton is considering staying in Formula One beyond his current contract as he looks to fulfil a long-held ambition of competing in an African Grand Prix.
The seven-time world champion, 41, said the announcement of Rwanda's plans to host a race in the early 2030s has given him another reason to continue competing, potentially keeping him on the grid into his mid-40s.
"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 ahead of the United States Grand Prix.
"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."
Formula One confirmed a 10-year agreement with Rwanda last week, with the proposed event expected to take place on a purpose-built circuit in Bugesera, south of Kigali. The venue has yet to be constructed, and organisers have not announced an exact date for the first race.
The planned event would mark F1's return to Africa for the first time since the 1993 South African Grand Prix. Hamilton has spent years advocating for the sport to return to the continent, arguing that the opportunity extends beyond hosting a race in a single country.
He believes the event could introduce international audiences to Africa's cultural diversity and encourage greater interest in its history and people.
"I think for me, it's a place that deserves to have a Grand Prix. It's about 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 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 is currently contracted to Ferrari through the end of the 2027 season, according to reports. If he remains in F1 long enough to compete in Rwanda, he would be racing well into his 40s.
