Lewis Hamilton hopes African individuals ‘take international locations again’ from British and Europeans
Formula 1 legend Lewis Hamilton has urged African nations to ‘take back’ their continent from the likes of Britain, France, Spain and Portugal as he pushes for the sport to return to Africa
Lewis Hamilton would love to race in Africa before he retires(Image: Eric Alonso/DPPI/Shutterstock)
F1 superstar Lewis Hamilton wants to see the exploitation of Africa by the likes of Britain, France and Spain ended.
The Ferrari driver also hopes Grand Prix races will return to the continent before he retires. Speaking ahead of the Australian Grand Prix as the 2026 season gets underway in Melbourne this weekend, Hamilton was asked by a South African journalist about the prospect of a race in Africa.
The seven-time world champion seized the opportunity to speak of his desire for that to happen. But the 41-year-old born in Stevenage also voiced his feelings on how he believed the continent continued to be exploited.
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“I think 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 said.
“I’m really hoping that the people that are running those different countries all unite and come together and take Africa back. That’s what I want to see.”
“Take it back from the French, take it back from the Spanish, take it back from the Portuguese and the British. 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, and that’s probably why they are being controlled the way they are. But anyways, move on.”
Hamilton is eager to see Grand Prix racing return to Africa for the first time since the South African Grand Prix took place at Kyalami in 1993.
“There’s one on every other continent, why not Africa?” he queried. “I know they [F1] are really trying. I think they’ve been to quite a few different countries.
“The ones that I’ve enjoyed the most: I loved Kenya. [But] I don’t think we’re going to have a grand prix in Kenya. Rwanda was spectacular. Two places I felt like I could live.
“South Africa is stunning. I think those are the ones I think would be good places for us to potentially go to.”
The sport’s icon is eager for Africa to feature on Formula 1’s calendar before he hangs up his helmet. Hamilton disclosed that he is pressuring Formula 1’s decision-makers as his time dwindles.
“I don’t want to leave the sport without having a grand prix there, without getting to race there, so I’m chasing them: ‘When is it going to be?'” he stated.
“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 whilst, until that happens, because that would be amazing, given that I’m half-African.
“I’ve got roots from a few different places there, like Togo and Benin. I went to visit Benin last year, Senegal and Nigeria. It’s something I’m really, really proud of. I’m really proud of that part of the world.”
