Lewis Hamilton has called on African countries to reclaim control of their resources and work together to unlock the continent\u2019s potential. Speaking ahead of the Australian Grand Prix, the seven-time Formula One champion emphasized that Africa\u2019s wealth, culture, and talent deserve global recognition and that the continent must take its place on the world stage.<\/p>\n
Hamilton, who proudly calls himself half\u2011African with ancestral roots in Benin, Senegal and Nigeria, said he feels a deep bond with the continent and believes it deserves far greater global recognition. \u201cAfrica is the most beautiful part of the world,\u201d he told reporters. \u201cBut I don\u2019t like that the rest of the world owns so much of it and takes so much from it, and no one speaks about it.\u201d<\/p>\n
His message wasn\u2019t just sentimental, it carried a call to action. Hamilton urged African leaders and people to come together to \u201ctake Africa back\u201d from the lingering influences of former colonial powers he named, including France, Spain, Portugal and Britain. He said unity and collective effort are key to unlocking the continent\u2019s vast potential, which he believes could make Africa one of the most powerful and prosperous regions in the world. <\/p>\n
Amid his message of empowerment, Hamilton also renewed his long\u2011standing dream of bringing a Formula One Grand Prix to Africa, a feat the sport hasn\u2019t achieved since 1993, when the Kyalami circuit in South Africa last hosted a race. <\/p>\n
Hamilton said he has spent years quietly lobbying F1 decision\u2011makers behind the scenes, asking repeatedly why the world\u2019s most elite racing series doesn\u2019t include Africa on its calendar. He said he doesn\u2019t want to retire without racing on the continent and is pushing for that to happen while he still has time in his career. <\/p>\n
During his travels across the continent, Hamilton spoke about the places that have left a deep impression on him. He described Kenya as a place he loved visiting, even if it may not be ready to host a grand prix, and said Rwanda was \u201cspectacular\u201d, a place he could imagine living. He also praised South Africa for its beauty and motorsport heritage, identifying all three nations as strong potential homes for Africa\u2019s first F1 race. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Seven-time Formula One champion calls for African unity and dreams of a Formula One Grand Prix on the continent.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":765,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[360,471,470,469],"class_list":["post-764","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports","tag-africa","tag-f1","tag-grandprix","tag-lewishamilton"],"yoast_head":"\n