In the dynamic realm of Formula 1, where every turn and lap holds the promise of thrill, Lewis Hamilton’s impassioned vision of restoring Formula 1 to the African continent inches closer to reality. The absence of an African Grand Prix for the past three decades has been a void that Hamilton, a seven-time World Champion, is determined to fill. Recent developments, including discussions and the unveiling of a masterplan by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), are kindling hope for this dream to materialize.
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Africa’s racing history saw its last Grand Prix in 1993 with the South African Grand Prix, and Hamilton’s persistent advocacy for an African Grand Prix has sparked discussions about potential new venues. Notably, South Africa and the historic Kyalami Circuit have emerged in these conversations, offering a glimmer of hope for Formula 1 enthusiasts in the region.
Earlier this year, negotiations were in progress between Formula 1 and officials from the Kyalami circuit, fueling excitement about the prospect of a return. However, hurdles arose in the form of financial disagreements, leading to a temporary impasse. Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali acknowledged these talks but stressed the importance of stability and the necessity of finding the right partners.
FIA President’s Strategic Vision for African Motorsport
In a recent dialogue with a source, FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem underscored the crucial need to focus on Africa, a continent with a rich history in motorsport. He highlighted the strong connections and the presence of a dedicated vice president in Africa, emphasizing the FIA’s commitment to fostering motorsport in the region. Initiatives like “Motorsport in a Box” were revealed, aimed at empowering local motorsport clubs with essential equipment.
“We have very good contacts in Africa,” stated Ben Sulayem. “There should be more focus on Africa… We are strengthening the local clubs there. In some regions, we start at the grassroots, we call it ‘Motorsport in a Box.’ This is a box you get from the FIA. It has very simple equipment in it, like timing and phones. At least then you can do speed tests.”
Sulayem highlighted the significance of nurturing motorsport from its grassroots, stating, “I cannot give orders; the water does not flow down here. It is the other way around; it goes from the bottom to the top. You have to start at the bottom. That is why we have recently launched ‘Motorsport in a Box’; we are sending it to them and we are going to get them involved in motorsport.”
This morning, the focus of the ASN Forum of the 2023 #FIAConference was on accessibility and participation. During the session, Motorsport in a Box – a complete toolkit that will support Clubs to engage in grassroots motor sport – was presented. During the afternoon, Delegates… pic.twitter.com/F4a5aiwcfh
— FIA (@fia) June 21, 2023
Formula 1’s Prospects in Africa and Hamilton’s Unwavering Commitment
Turning the focus to Formula 1 and its potential resurgence in Africa, Sulayem acknowledged South Africa’s rich motorsport history and the ongoing negotiations for Formula 1’s return to Kyalami. “Since last year, there has been a lot of talk about Formula 1 returning to Kyalami. That would be something great for Africa. We are also thinking about an electric championship that Africa would like to be involved in. That would also be good,” he concluded.
Despite setbacks in the negotiations for F1’s return to Africa, Lewis Hamilton remains steadfast in his commitment to the cause. Actively engaging with F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, Hamilton continues to advocate for the inclusion of an African Grand Prix in the racing calendar. His dedication echoes in a statement to Motorsport Week, where he commended the positive direction taken by Stefano Domenicali and Liberty.
Lewis Hamilton says it’s “most important” to him to see Formula 1 return to South Africa, to “highlight how beautiful the motherland is”.#F1 #TeamLH #USGPhttps://t.co/rVzd19avmh
— Mercedes F1 News – SilverArrows.Net (@SilverArrowsNet) October 21, 2021
“I hear there’s a lot of people complaining about the direction that Stefano and Liberty have been going, but I think they’ve been doing an amazing job,” said Hamilton. “This sport is growing massively; it’s going to grow even more once we get this movie out. I’m on to Stefano because I really want to get the race in South Africa or in Africa, so if it’s not South Africa, it will be somewhere else there hopefully because we’re on all the other continents.”