Hamilton Urges F1 CEO to Bring Grand Prix Back to Africa
Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time Formula 1 World Champion, is pushing for the addition of a grand prix in Africa, and he’s not letting up on his efforts to convince Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali. Despite competing in all but one of the earth’s continents, the sport has not visited Africa since the 1993 South African Grand Prix.
Domenicali, who took over as F1 CEO and president in 2021, expressed his interest in expanding into Africa. There are areas of the world that want to have Formula 1, and I think that one area that we want to develop is the African area. We are a World Championship, and that’s an area where we are not there, he said in 2022.
However, plans to return to the revamped Kyalami circuit in South Africa for 2024 were put on hold earlier this year due to concerns about contract fulfillment. Despite this setback, Hamilton remains a staunch supporter of racing at the historic venue.
I’m on to Stefano because I really want to get the race in South Africa or in Africa, so if it’s not South Africa, it will be somewhere else there hopefully, because we’re on all the other continents, Hamilton said ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Although South Africa was considered as a potential replacement for the Belgian Grand Prix, which secured a one-year extension for 2024 after the Kyalami deal fell through, it will not come at the expense of Spa-Francorchamps as it has agreed to an additional one-year contract.
In addition to his efforts in Africa, Hamilton also expressed support for Formula 1’s expansion in the United States. With the addition of the Las Vegas Grand Prix to events in Austin and Miami, Hamilton believes that having at least two races in the country is essential to tap into the American market and captivate the audience.
This [Las Vegas] is one of the most iconic cities there is in the unique cities that they have here amongst the other amazing cities they have in America. All the lights, the show, it is a big show, Hamilton said.
He emphasized the importance of making a positive impact on the communities where Formula 1 races are held, particularly among children. Hamilton shared his initiative of bringing 60 young girls from local communities to the circuit in Austin, Texas, with the hope of inspiring them to pursue careers in engineering.
We’ve got to make sure we’re also doing stuff like that, Hamilton emphasized.
While there are no finalized plans for an African grand prix yet, Hamilton’s persistent efforts and Domenicali’s interest in expanding into the African region hint at the possibility of a race on the continent in the near future. Formula 1 continues to explore new frontiers and looks to ensure its global appeal remains strong.
The addition of races in Africa would not only bring the excitement of Formula 1 to new audiences but also provide an opportunity to promote positive change and inspire the next generation of racing enthusiasts and engineers on the continent.
