F1 News: Lewis Hamilton Continues Push For South African GP Return
Lewis Hamilton recently emphasised his ongoing efforts to bring Formula 1 to Africa, highlighting the sport's absence from the continent since 1993. Despite challenges, including the recent shelving of plans for the Kyalami circuit, Hamilton remains a vocal advocate for F1's expansion into Africa.
Key Takeaways:
- Hamilton's Advocacy for African Grand Prix: Lewis Hamilton continues to press F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali for the inclusion of a grand prix in Africa, stressing the importance of the continent in F1's global presence.
- Challenges in Realising the African Dream: Efforts to return to the Kyalami circuit in 2024 faced setbacks, with concerns over contract fulfillment, while South Africa remains a potential candidate for the 2025 calendar.
- Support for F1's Growth and U.S. Expansion: Hamilton supports F1's expansion in the United States, including the controversial Las Vegas GP, and emphasises the positive impact of the sport on local communities and youth.
Lewis Hamilton has been actively pursuing the inclusion of a grand prix in Africa. His advocacy is part of a broader push to ensure F1's presence on more continents, filling a gap that has existed since the 1993 South African Grand Prix. Hamilton's efforts align with the vision of F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, who has expressed a desire to develop F1 in the African region.
The quest for an African Grand Prix, however, has faced obstacles. Plans to host a race at the revamped Kyalami circuit in 2024 were recently put on hold due to concerns about the feasibility of the contract terms. Despite this, Hamilton remains committed to seeing F1 race in Africa, whether in South Africa or another location.
Hamilton's advocacy goes beyond Africa. He has also supported F1's expansion in the United States, particularly with the addition of the Las Vegas Grand Prix. While some, like Max Verstappen, have criticised the Las Vegas event, Hamilton defends it, highlighting F1's growth as a business and the need to engage the American market more effectively.
Speaking to Motorsport Week, Hamilton explained:
“I hear there’s a lot of people complaining about the direction that Stefano and Liberty have been going but I think they’ve been doing an amazing job.
“This sport is growing massively, it’s going to grow even more once we get this movie out. 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.”