Lewis Hamilton has urged African countries to unite and reclaim their continent. He believes the continent is being controlled by European powers.
Hamilton’s Vision for Africa
Speaking ahead of the new Formula 1 season, Hamilton outlined his ambition to compete in a grand prix on African soil before he retires. The Ferrari driver suggested that former colonial rulers still exerted undue power in the region. He called for action to reverse that influence.
“I’ve got roots from a few different places there, like Togo and Benin. I’m really proud of that part of the world,” Hamilton told reporters in Melbourne.
“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. I’m really hoping that the people that are running those different countries all unite and come together and take Africa back.”
Hamilton continued, “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.”
Pushing for an African Grand Prix
Hamilton reiterated his support for an African grand prix and his hope of seeing it happen before he retires. “For the past six years, maybe seven, I’ve been fighting in the background to get a grand prix … sitting with stakeholders and asking the question, ‘Why are we not in Africa?'”
“I don’t want to leave the sport without having a grand prix there, without getting to race there, so I’m chasing them. 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. That would be amazing, given that I’m half African.”
He added, “There’s one on every other continent, why not Africa? I know they’re really trying.”
Potential Host Nations
Having travelled extensively on the continent, Hamilton also put forward his ideas for potential host nations. “I think they’ve been to quite a few different countries. I loved Kenya — I don’t think we’re going to have a grand prix in Kenya — but Rwanda particularly was spectacular. South Africa is stunning.
“I think those are the ones I think would be good places for us to potentially go to.”
Meanwhile, Max Verstappen isn’t concerned about how his Red Bull will perform, while Lewis Hamilton says he is “happier” at Ferrari.