{"id":112,"date":"2026-03-31T06:14:50","date_gmt":"2026-03-31T06:14:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/disport.com.ng\/2026\/03\/31\/lewis-hamilton-calls-on-africa-to-take-countries-back-from-likes-of-the-british\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T06:14:50","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T06:14:50","slug":"lewis-hamilton-calls-on-africa-to-take-countries-back-from-likes-of-the-british","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/?p=112","title":{"rendered":"Lewis Hamilton calls on Africa to &#8216;take countries back&#8217; from likes of the British"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_548649\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton has spoken about the prospect of Formula 1 heading to Africa, and the seven-time world champion wants to see the continent break free from its colonisers<\/h2>\n<div class=\"Byline_byline-container__K_Owl\" data-testid=\"byline\"><span class=\"Byline_byline-content-wrapper__Imque\" data-testid=\"byline-content\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"Byline_author-badge-date-wrapper__Q7jj1\">\n<p><span class=\"\" data-testid=\"byline-publishedDate\">11:09, 05 Mar 2026<\/span><span class=\"ArticleTimestamp_updated-date__7qD4Q ArticleTimestamp_updated-date-with-published__iFKpF\" data-testid=\"byline-updatedDate\">Updated 16:54, 05 Mar 2026<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<p><button class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX ImageEmbed_image-lead__Ti3qQ\" data-testid=\"leadimage\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36820485\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Lewis Hamilton\" loading=\"eager\" sizes=\"(max-width: 508px) 508px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36820485.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_GettyImages-2264856566.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36820485.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s508\/0_GettyImages-2264856566.jpg 508w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36820485.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/0_GettyImages-2264856566.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36820485.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_GettyImages-2264856566.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Lewis Hamilton has spoken out about Formula 1 and Africa\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Lewis Hamilton has spoken out about Formula 1 and Africa<cite aria-label=\"Image: Jayce Illman\/Getty Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Jayce Illman\/Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Formula 1 icon Lewis Hamilton wants to see Africa break free from the influence of Britain, France, Spain and other nations to reclaim its resources. The veteran racer also hopes to see the sport make a return to the continent before he retires.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Speaking ahead of the Australian Grand Prix as the 2026 season gets underway in Melbourne this weekend, Hamilton was asked by a South African journalist about the prospect of a race in Africa.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The seven-time world champion took the opportunity to speak of his desire for that to happen. But the 41-year-old also spoke out on how he felt the continent continued to be exploited.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cI think it is the most beautiful part of the world, and I don\u2019t like that the rest of the world owns so much of it and takes so much from it and no one speaks about it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019m really hoping that the people that are running those different countries all unite and come together and take Africa back. That\u2019s what I want to see.<\/p>\n<p><span data-testid=\"readmore\" class=\"ReadMore_readmore-prefix__xS44r __className_09d958\">READ MORE<!-- -->: <span class=\"ReadMore_readmore-link__eF9pN\">Sky Sports confirm F1 pundits for 2026 season as controversial big name missing<\/span><\/span><span data-testid=\"readmore\" class=\"ReadMore_readmore-prefix__xS44r __className_09d958\">READ MORE<!-- -->: <span class=\"ReadMore_readmore-link__eF9pN\">F1&#8217;s stance on cancelling 2026 races as history shows calendar could be shook up<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;Take it back from the French, take it back from the Spanish, take it back from the Portuguese and the British. It\u2019s so important for the future of that continent.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;They have all the resources to be the greatest and most powerful place in the world, and that\u2019s probably why they are being controlled the way they are. But anyways, move on.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Hamilton is keen to see racing return to Africa, with no Grand Prix being hosted on the continent since 1993. On that occasion, the South African Grand Prix took place at Kyalami.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-36820429\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36820429\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.54\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"1993 South African Grand Prix. Kyalami, South Africa. 12-14 March 1993. Ayrton Senna (McLaren MP4\/8 Ford) leads Alain Prost (Williams FW15C Renault) and Michael Schumacher (Benetton B192B Ford).\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36820429.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-2229378785.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36820429.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_GettyImages-2229378785.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36820429.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_GettyImages-2229378785.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36820429.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-2229378785.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Ayrton Senna leads Alain Prost and Michael Schumacher at the South African Grand Prix\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Ayrton Senna leads Alain Prost and Michael Schumacher at the South African Grand Prix<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cThere\u2019s one on every other continent, why not Africa?\u201d he said. \u201cI know they (F1) are really trying. I think they\u2019ve been to quite a few different countries.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cThe ones that I\u2019ve enjoyed the most: I loved Kenya. (But) I don\u2019t think we\u2019re going to have a grand prix in Kenya. Rwanda was spectacular. Two places I felt like I could live.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;South Africa is stunning. I think those are the ones I think would be good places for us to potentially go to.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">JOIN US ON FACEBOOK!<\/strong><a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MirrorSport#\" rel=\"nofollow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\"> <\/strong><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\"><u>All the best sports news and much more on our dedicated Facebook page<\/u><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">And the sport&#8217;s icon is keen that Africa makes it onto Formula 1&#8217;s calendar before he retires. Hamilton revealed he is lobbying Formula 1&#8217;s decision-makers with his time running out.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cI don\u2019t want to leave the sport without having a grand prix there, without getting to race there, so I\u2019m chasing them: \u2018When is it going to be?\u2019&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;They\u2019re setting certain dates. I\u2019m like, \u2018Damn, I could be running out of time\u2026\u2019 So I\u2019m going to be here for a while, until that happens, because that would be amazing, given that I\u2019m half-African.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019ve got roots from a few different places there, like Togo and Benin. I went to visit Benin last year, Senegal and Nigeria. It\u2019s something I\u2019m really, really proud of. I\u2019m really proud of that part of the world.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"AffiliateContentsEmbed_affiliate-contents-container__oTiet\" data-testid=\"affiliate-contents-embed\">\n<div data-testid=\"affiliate-content\" class=\"AffiliateContent_affiliate-content-container__10EX_ affiliate-content\">\n<p>Sky&#8217;s discounted Formula 1 package<\/p>\n<div class=\"AffiliateDisclaimer_affiliate-disclaimer__dG5ST\">\n<div class=\"AffiliateDisclaimer_affiliate-text__8nmDa\">This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. 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