The Formula One legend Lewis Hamilton has recently struggled to shine on the world’s biggest motorsport stage. The 39-year-old racer is experiencing a disastrous season filled with a string of underwhelming performances. As a result, since the penultimate race in 2021, the Briton appears to have lost his once-magical touch, with significant obstacles to achieving a triumph after that. While he has received criticism for his current slump, the Mercedes F1 project is equally to blame. Despite his strongest season finish in Canada, the Brit appeared dissatisfied owing to his blunders.
However, one more thing is keeping him unhappy. The seven-time world champion wants Formula One to return to Africa. Moroever, Kyalami in Africa has not witnessed any F1 race since 1993 for several reasons. While the Briton remains adamant about driving once in Africa before retiring, the F1 bosses seem uninterested.
F1 CEO Is ‘Trying To Find A Solution’ For Hamilton’s Africa Plea
Lewis Hamilton has signed a contract with Ferrari for the upcoming season. The 39-year-old Brit is in the latter phase of his career, where adapting to new challenges isn’t as easy as a few years ago. However, despite the age factor, Hamilton is passionate about the sport. Although, he has achieved almost everything in his career, from World Championships to World Records. However, one of his wishes has gone unnoticed by the angels till now. The Ferrari-bound driver wants to see the F1 paddock reaching the off-shores of Africa. Notably, the last Grand Prix in Africa was back in 1993. Thus, Hamilton wants to drive on the Kyalami track before signing off.
Furthermore, the much-anticipated return of Formula One to Kyalami looked possible in 2022. However, according to the BBC, Africa’s relationship with Russia became an obstacle. Although the FIA extended the calendar to 24 races in 2024, there are no signs of its return to Africa. Further, CEO Stefano Domenicali clarified that the 24 races would continue despite 35 potential racing venues showing interest. Conjointly, the Briton remains obdurate with racing on African soil. In 2023, Lewis Hamilton strongly desired a Formula 1 race in Africa. He pointed out that Formula 1 already hosts events on every other continent and emphasized a Grand Prix’s positive impact on a new location. According to Hamilton, such an event draws significant attention and travel, boosting the local economy and providing educational opportunities for people.
Moreover, Hamilton highlighted the importance of engaging deeply with the community during these events. He believes that the goal should be to create a lasting impact and legacy in the places they visit rather than just putting on a show and leaving. By hosting a race in Africa, Hamilton envisions an exciting sporting event and a meaningful and enduring contribution to the continent. Although his plea has consistently failed to reach the authorities, it remains to be seen whether he will have the opportunity to race in Africa before retiring.
Martin Brundle Has A Stern Warning For Hamilton About His ‘Young Rivals’
Former Formula One driver Martin Brundle advised Lewis Hamilton to bring his ‘A Game’ to compete with the current generation of racers. Furthermore, he believes the younger racers are more bold and willing to take risks. While Brundle acknowledged Hamilton’s racing abilities, he highlighted that Hamilton must perform better than before.
Brundle hailed the Brackley-based team in his Sky Sports column, noting that the W15 was the quickest on dry tires. However, in turn eight, he pointed out a fault in which Russell wasted an opportunity to assault Verstappen.
