Lewis Hamilton: F1 Can't Keep Ignoring Africa

Six-time champion and current Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton has reiterated his desire for Formula 1 to return to Africa, amid reports that Rwanda is interested in holding a Grand Prix.

Formula 1 has not visited Africa since 1993, when South African venue Kyalami hosted its last race, and tentative plans to revive the event have not credibly materialized.

Hamilton spent much of his summer recess visiting different countries in Africa and backed calls for a Grand Prix.

“We can't be adding races in other locations and continue to ignore Africa which the rest of the world takes from, no one gives anything to Africa,” Hamilton said. “There's a huge amount of work there that needs to be done. I think a lot of the world that haven't been there don't realize how beautiful the place is and how vast it is... I think having a Grand Prix there would really be able to highlight how great the place is and bring in tourism and all sorts of things so why are we not on that continent?”

Hamilton added that “Rwanda is one of my favorite places I've been to. I've been doing a lot of work in the background and spoken to people in Rwanda and South Africa and that's a long project in Rwanda, but it's amazing that they're so keen to get it.”