British racing driver Lewis Hamilton has called for the “decolonization” of African countries from former colonial powers such as France, Spain and Britain.
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 fought for almost a decade to take the sport back to Africa, adding: “I’m not retiring until it does.”
The Scuderia Ferrari driver also spoke of his hope that African leaders will make further efforts to decolonize the continent.
The 41-year-old also described his African roots, saying: “I’m half African. I have roots from a few different places there. Benin, Senegal, Nigeria.”
He said Africa is the most beautiful part of the world, adding: “It’s sad that nobody talks about how the rest of the world owns so much of it and takes so much from it.”
He called on the African people to take back the continent “from the French, from Spain, from the Portuguese and the British.”
Speaking about his visit to Senegal during the 2024 mid-season break, Hamilton said: “It was so important to learn our history and to honor the people we come from and live for them.”
