British racing driver Lewis Hamilton has called for the “decolonization” of African countries from former colonial powers such as France, Spain and the United Kingdom.
Hamilton called on the people of Africa to take back the continent in a rare speech that emphasized his African roots.
There has not been an F1 event in Africa since the 1993 South African Grand Prix.
When asked about the sport’s return to the continent, the seven-time F1 world champion said he had been fighting for almost a decade to bring the sport back to Africa, adding: “I’m not retiring until I do.”
The Scuderia Ferrari driver also spoke of his hopes that African leaders will step up their efforts to decolonize the continent.
The 41-year-old also described his African roots: “I’m half African. I have roots from different places there. Benin, Senegal, Nigeria.”
He said Africa is the most beautiful part of the world, adding: “It’s sad that no one talks about how the rest of the world owns so much of it and takes so much from it.”
He called on Africans to take back the continent “from the French, from Spain, from the Portuguese and from the British.”
Speaking about his visit to Senegal during the midseason break in 2024, Hamilton said, “It was very important to know our history and honor the people we come from and live for them.”
