Hamilton Asserts F1 Can't 'Continue To Ignore Africa'

Friday, 23 August 2024 at 21:24

Speaking ahead of the 2024 Dutch Grand Prix, seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton asserted that F1 must stop ignoring Africa as it keeps adding races on other continents.

As of 2024, F1 has at least one race on every continent except Africa (and Antarctica, of course). Lewis Hamilton sees this as a huge shame.

Currently, there are six races in Asia, five in North America, one in South America, and eight all around Europe. In the past, there were fewer races in a single season; in fact, 2024 is a record-breaking year for the number of race weekends.

However, while F1 keeps actively adding new Grand Prix races on other continents - such as the Miami Grand Prix, the Las Vegas Grand Prix, or the Madrid Grand Prix, Africa is still waiting for its race. Lewis Hamilton told the media at Circuit Zandvoort:

“"We want to go to Africa, but we need to have the right investment, and the right strategic plan. We can't be adding races in other locations and continue to ignore Africa, which the rest of the world just takes from. No one gives anything to Africa."”

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“"I think 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."”

If you're wondering whether there has been a Grand Prix race in Africa in the past, the answer is yes. F1 used to regularly hold a race called the South African Grand Prix between 1960 and 1985.

Then, it had to withdraw from South Africa due to the nation's policy of apartheid. In 1992, F1 returned to Africa, but this Grand Prix was discontinued after 1993 and has not appeared on the calendar since then. Hamilton added:

“"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."”

“"In the short term, we should just get on that track and have that as part of the calendar and then work on building out something even more. That'll be a conversation I have with Stefano [Domenicali], who I know is also wishing to make sure."”