Lewis Hamilton Explores Africa During F1 Break as He Paves Way for New Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton, known for his 7 championship wins over his strong career, has recently taken a transformative journey through Africa during the F1 summer shutdown. Initially visiting his family in Turkey, Hamilton wasted no time diving into a cultural holiday in Africa. But F1 was still on his mind as the driver explored the idea of a Grand Prix in the continent.

“Straight from the airport into activities, history museums and just cultural experiences in each of the different countries I went to,” Hamilton told the Athletic.

Hamilton’s African tour included visits to Morocco, Senegal, and Mozambique. In Mozambique, he visited the Maratane Refugee Settlement. Reflecting on the experience, Hamilton said:

“There’s so much to take from it. I’m still digesting the trip and going to a refugee camp and seeing the work being done there and how people are displaced.”

He was particularly moved by the hardships faced by children and women at the camp, noting their long daily treks for education and food.

“It’s one thing reading about it and seeing it on the news, but actually seeing it and speaking to kids who have 10 kilometers to get to school to have an education and then 10 kilometers back and not having school meals, not able to eat during the day,” he explained.

Hamilton’s emotional journey continued in Senegal, where the historical sites of the slave trade deeply affected him.

“That was really heavy to see and experience,” Hamilton admitted. He was obviously moved by the experience:

“It’s great to see organizations doing amazing work, and what can I do to get on board, how can I help?”

The soon-to-be Ferrari driver’s African journey wasn’t just about culture. He has also been actively pushing for the addition of a Grand Prix in Africa, a continent notably absent from the F1 calendar since South Africa’s last Grand Prix in 1993. Speaking on potential locations, the driver has been actively seeking answers as to how he can go about bringing this to fruition:

“We can’t be adding races in other locations and continue to ignore Africa, which the rest of the world takes from. No one gives anything to Africa,” Hamilton pointed out, highlighting the continent’s potential for tourism and global exposure through Formula 1. “I think having a grand prix there would really be able to highlight how great the place is and bring in tourism and all sorts of things so why are we not on that continent?”