In a stirring address at the Australian Grand Prix press conference on Thursday, seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton delivered an impassioned call for African countries to reclaim their resources and sovereignty from former colonial powers, while reiterating his long-standing commitment to bringing Formula 1 racing to the African continent .
The 41-year-old Ferrari driver, who identifies as half-African with ancestral roots in Togo, Benin, Senegal, and Nigeria, spoke without interruption for several minutes when questioned by a South African journalist about his support for an African Grand Prix .
A Personal Connection to the Continent
Hamilton revealed that he has visited ten African countries over the past seven years, describing his travels as deeply meaningful experiences that have strengthened his connection to his heritage .
“I’ve got roots from a few different places there, like Togo and Benin. I went to visit Benin last year, Senegal and Nigeria,” Hamilton said. “It’s something I’m really, really proud of. I’m really proud of that part of the world” .
The seven-time champion described Africa as “the most beautiful part of the world,” naming Kenya, Rwanda, and South Africa as particularly stunning locations where he could envision living .
A Vision for Africa’s Future
The press conference took a turn when Hamilton addressed what he perceives as ongoing exploitation of the African continent by external powers.
“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,” Hamilton stated .
In comments that have since generated widespread discussion, the Formula 1 icon called for African leadership to unite and reclaim control.
“I’m really hoping that the people that are running those different countries all unite and come together and take Africa back,” he said. “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” .
Hamilton emphasized the continent’s vast potential, noting that Africa possesses all the resources needed to become “the greatest and most powerful place in the world,” adding that this wealth is “probably why they are being controlled the way they are” .
Decades-Long Push for African Grand Prix
The Ferrari driver also used the platform to renew his campaign for Formula 1 to finally return to Africa, a continent that has not hosted a Grand Prix since the 1993 South African Grand Prix at Kyalami .
“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?'” Hamilton revealed .
He pointed out the anomaly in the current calendar: “There’s one on every other continent, why not Africa?” .
Hamilton made clear that his desire to race on African soil is so strong that it will influence how much longer he continues his Formula 1 career.
“I don’t want to leave the sport without having a Grand Prix there, without getting to race there, so I’m chasing them: ‘When is it going to be?'” he said.
Acknowledging that discussions are ongoing with target dates, Hamilton expressed concern about timing. “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, because that would be amazing, given that I’m half-African”.
Potential Host Countries
When asked about preferred locations for an African Grand Prix, Hamilton mentioned several countries he has visited and admired. While he loved Kenya, he acknowledged that a race there is unlikely in the near future.
“Rwanda particularly was spectacular,” Hamilton noted, adding that both Rwanda and South Africa would be “good places for us to potentially go to”.
South Africa’s Kyalami circuit, which hosted Formula 1 races from 1967 to 1985 and again in 1992-1993, remains the most viable option, with circuit upgrades reportedly under consideration to meet FIA Grade 1 standards.
Looking Ahead to the 2026 Season
Beyond his comments about Africa, Hamilton also addressed his mindset heading into the 2026 season opener in Melbourne. After a difficult debut season with Ferrari in 2025, during which he failed to secure a single podium finish for the first time in his career, Hamilton said he has undergone personal rediscovery.
“I kind of lost sight for a second of who I was,” Hamilton admitted. “But that person’s gone, you won’t see that person again”.
He described feeling more settled with the Ferrari team after a year of adjustment to their “very different culture” compared to his previous experiences at Mercedes and McLaren .
The timing of his remarks coincides with ongoing discussions within Formula 1 about expanding the calendar to include an African round. While Rwanda and South Africa have both expressed interest in recent years, logistical challenges and the investment required for circuit upgrades have delayed progress .
For Hamilton, who begins his 20th season in Formula 1 this weekend at Albert Park, the dream of racing in Africa represents both a professional goal and a deeply personal mission.
“It would be amazing, given that I’m half-African,” he said. “I’m really proud of that part of the world” .
The 2026 Australian Grand Prix takes place this weekend, marking the beginning of what Hamilton hopes will be a renewed chapter in his legendary career and, perhaps eventually, a historic first visit to the African continent for the sport he has helped define for two decades.