Hamilton calls to 'free Palestine' at U.S. Grand Prix press conference in Austin

Seven-time Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton called for pushing to free Congo, Sudan, Syria and Palestine at a press conference ahead of the United States Grand Prix in Austin, as he discussed F1's planned return to Africa with a race in Rwanda.

Seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton used his pre-race press conference at the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, on Thursday to call for freedom in four conflict zones. "I think we need to make sure we're pushing to free Congo, free Sudan, free Syria, free Palestine," the Ferrari driver said, according to the FIA transcript.

"I think there's a lot of peace that I'm hoping that some stage we get to," the 41-year-old added.

Africa's return to the calendar

Hamilton made the remarks while discussing Formula 1's plan to return to Africa. The sport has signed a 10-year agreement to stage a Grand Prix in Rwanda starting in the early 2030s, a choice criticized by human rights groups over allegations that Rwanda backs M23 rebels in eastern Congo, which Rwanda denies. Formula 1 last raced on the continent at the 1993 South African Grand Prix.

"Of course I don't get to choose where we go and naturally there's problems all over the world today," Hamilton said, adding that going somewhere does not mean ignoring what is happening there. He said he had spent years pushing for an African race, including in talks with F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali and several African heads of state, and argued that many of the continent's problems stem from colonialism and Western intervention.

Hamilton, who did not call for the Rwanda deal to be scrapped, has repeatedly spoken out about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

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