Lewis Hamilton has committed to continuing his Formula 1 career until the sport returns to Africa, which has been absent from the F1 calendar for 33 years. The seven-time world champion is actively advocating for the revival of a grand prix on the continent, emphasizing its significance to him personally and culturally.
Formula 1 last raced in Africa at the 1993 South African Grand Prix held at the Kyalami circuit near Johannesburg. The event disappeared from the schedule after new ownership at Kyalami prioritized profitability, ending a sporadic history of races in South Africa over 26 years. To date, only South Africa and Morocco (which hosted in 1958) have held F1 events in Africa.
The Challenge of Reintroducing an African Grand Prix
Despite Formula 1’s expansion to a record 24 races covering every inhabited continent, Africa remains without a grand prix slot. This absence persists amid ongoing discussions about which African country could realistically host a race, considering factors like the financial burden and the need for a circuit meeting FIA Grade 1 standards.
Hamilton, now 41, expressed the urgency he feels about this goal, saying,
“I don’t want to leave the sport without having a grand prix there, without getting to race there. I’m chasing them: when is it going to be? They’re setting certain dates and I’m like ‘damn, I’m running out of time’.”
He also highlighted his personal ties to the continent:
“So I’m going to be here for a while until that happens, because that would be amazing, given that I’m half African.”
I’ve got family roots from a few different places there, like Togo and Benin – I went to visit Benin last year – Senegal and Nigeria and so it’s something I’m really proud of, that part of the world, I think it’s the most beautiful part of the world.
– Lewis Hamilton, Formula 1 World Champion
Ongoing Efforts to Restore an African Race
Hamilton has long lobbied for the sport’s return to Africa, but progress remains complicated. South Africa stands out as the prime contender, with talks of its inclusion peaking in 2024. However, those ambitions were halted amid allegations related to South Africa’s arms dealings amid the conflict in Ukraine.
In 2025, hope reemerged when Kyalami’s owners announced plans to upgrade the circuit to FIA Grade 1 within three years. Nevertheless, following a turbulent bidding process that included competition from a proposed Cape Town Grand Prix, no official decision has been finalized, meaning the return still faces major hurdles.
Besides South Africa, Rwanda drew attention in 2024 after its government officials met with F1 representatives and declared interest in hosting a grand prix. Despite early enthusiasm, negotiations have stalled since then, while neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo raised objections because of regional conflict concerns.
Reflecting on possible locations he has visited, Hamilton said,
“For the past six years, I think, maybe seven, I’ve been fighting in the background to get a grand prix – it might be longer than that actually.”
The ones that I’ve enjoyed [visiting] the most so far, I loved Kenya, don’t think we’re going to have a grand prix in Kenya, but Rwanda particularly was spectacular – two places I felt like I could live. And South Africa. I think those are the ones that I think would be good places for us to potentially go to.
– Lewis Hamilton, Formula 1 World Champion
F1 Leadership on Expansion and African Prospects
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali recently addressed the possibility of expanding to new countries, including those in Africa. He cautioned that any such developments would not arrive soon, noting that building new events requires substantial preparation and time.
If this will be the case, it will not be in the short term because the need of building something from zero requires the right time,
Domenicali explained.
So I would say these things can happen after 2029, because we have other expirations of contracts, so there is an evolving situation.
The CEO also highlighted the challenge of selecting new venues carefully:
It’s very positive because we have a quality problem, we can make a decision on where we want to go. Of course keeping the focus on making sure that we find the right decision because we don’t want to expand the number. So we need to work on it, but I don’t see this happening before 2029.
Africa’s Role in Motorsport Beyond Formula 1
Although Formula 1 has yet to return, Africa continues to feature in other prominent motorsport disciplines. The Safari Rally Kenya remains a renowned event within the World Rally Championship calendar, and Formula E recently staged a race in Cape Town in 2023, demonstrating the continent’s ongoing motorsport relevance.
As Hamilton maintains his pursuit to bring F1 back to Africa, efforts by organizers and local governments will be critical in determining when and if the continent will finally rejoin the global racing circuit. With contractual and infrastructural changes planned beyond 2029, the possibility remains open but distant, underscoring the importance of persistence from advocates like the seven-time champion.
