Lewis Hamilton Plans to Stay in F1 Until He Races in Africa

Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time Formula 1 world champion, has stated that he does not plan to retire from racing until he has the chance to participate in a grand prix held on African soil.

Hamilton has been actively engaging with Formula 1 officials for approximately six or seven years, pushing for the championship's return to Africa and questioning its absence from the racing calendar.

"I don’t want to leave the sport without having a grand prix there, without getting to race there," Hamilton remarked. "I’m chasing them — when is it going to be? They’re setting certain dates. I’m like, damn, I could be running out of time, so I’m going to be here for a while until that happens, because that would be amazing, given that I’m half-African."

As the first Black driver in Formula 1, Hamilton has a unique background, with an Afro-Caribbean father and a British mother. He emphasizes the significance of diversity and inclusion within motorsport and believes an African grand prix would hold great symbolism, enhancing the sport's global influence.

Although Hamilton acknowledged that F1 executives are making earnest efforts to organize a race in Africa, no definitive plans have been set as of now. The possibility of hosting such an event before the decade concludes seems unlikely.

Rwanda was the most recently mentioned candidate for hosting a race, but those discussions have diminished in momentum. Attempts in the past to revive Formula 1 races in South Africa — at either Kyalami near Johannesburg or a proposed street circuit in Cape Town — have not come to fruition. Kyalami previously hosted Formula 1 between 1967 and 1985, with additional races in 1992 and 1993, during the apartheid era.

Apart from issues related to motorsport, Hamilton also expressed deeper worries about the political and economic prospects of Africa. He criticized the ongoing exploitation of African nations by wealthier countries, particularly those with colonial legacies.

"It is the most beautiful part of the world, and I don’t like that the rest of the world owns so much of it and takes so much from it and no one speaks about it," he stated.

He voiced hope that African nations could unite to gain greater authority over their resources and future development. "It’s so important for the future of that continent. They have all the resources to be the greatest and most powerful place in the world," Hamilton added.

For Hamilton, racing in Africa would not only mark a significant personal achievement but would also signify a crucial moment for Formula 1 as it endeavors to expand its global presence. Until this dream materializes, he believes his racing career in the sport is still incomplete.