Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time Formula 1 world champion, has renewed his call for the sport to include an African Grand Prix on its calendar.
Speaking at the Dutch Grand Prix in August, Hamilton emphasised the importance of not ignoring Africa in F1’s global expansion.
“We can’t be adding races in other locations and continuing to ignore Africa, which the rest of the world just takes from. No one gives anything to Africa,” Hamilton stated.
The British driver has been advocating for races in Rwanda or South Africa, highlighting the continent’s beauty and potential for tourism.
Hamilton plans to discuss the addition of an African race with F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali.
The Mercedes driver revealed: “That’ll be a conversation I have with Stefano [Domenicali], who I know is also pushing to make sure.”
Lewis Hamilton has insisted the F1 should travel to Africa next season
Reuters
Hamilton dismissed concerns about track readiness, stating: “The current excuse is that maybe there’s not a track that’s ready, but there is at least one track that’s ready there.”
He suggested utilising an existing circuit in the short term while developing future projects.
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Hamilton has been actively working behind the scenes, engaging with representatives from both Rwanda and South Africa to explore possibilities for hosting a Grand Prix.
Adding new races to the Formula 1 calendar presents significant challenges, given the already packed schedule.
The 2024 and 2025 calendars feature 24 events across five continents, excluding Africa.
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Recent additions include Miami and Las Vegas in the United States, reflecting F1’s growing popularity in the region.
A street circuit race in Madrid is set to replace Barcelona as the Spanish Grand Prix from 2026.
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has indicated that the sport’s increasing popularity allows for more selective negotiations with potential host locations.
However, concerns about an overcrowded calendar persist, with drivers like Max Verstappen expressing reservations about the current number of races.
Africa is the only continent not on the Formula One calendar
Reuters
Hamilton’s personal commitment to promoting Africa through Formula 1 is evident in his recent travels. During the F1 summer break in August, he visited various African countries, including a refugee camp.
“I’ve been doing a lot of work in the background on it,” Hamilton revealed, highlighting his dedication to the cause.
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Lewis Hamilton revealed he loved his recent visit to Rwanda
The British driver was particularly impressed with Rwanda, stating: “Rwanda is one of my favourite places I’ve been to, actually.”
Hamilton emphasised the potential impact of an African Grand Prix, saying: “Having a grand prix there will really be able to highlight just how great the place is and bring in tourism and all sorts of things.”