Lewis Hamilton to delay F1 retirement until critical milestone hit

Lewis Hamilton has delivered a powerful ultimatum ahead of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, declaring he will not leave Formula 1 until the sport finally returns to Africa.

The seven-time world champion, speaking as he prepares for his second season at Ferrari, revealed the depth of his personal commitment to bringing F1 back to the continent for the first time since the 1993 South African Grand Prix.

The 41-year-old has become the sport's most vocal advocate for a grand prix in Africa and has spent years working behind the scenes with stakeholders to try to make it happen.

Rwanda and South Africa are currently the frontrunners in the race to host F1's return to Africa, with Kyalami receiving FIA Grade 1 approval in 2025.

Hamilton does not want to leave the championship until a successful return to Africa takes place and is eager for the world to see how incredible it is.

Asked where in Africa he wants to see a grand prix, Hamilton explained: "I’ve had the privilege… I’ve been to 10 countries now in Africa. There’s still so much more for me to see. For the past six years, maybe seven, I’ve been fighting in the background to get a grand prix, might be longer than that actually, sitting with stakeholders and asking the question, why are we not in Africa? 

"There’s one on every other continent, why not Africa? I know they’re really trying. I think they’ve been to quite a few different countries. The ones that I’ve enjoyed the most: I loved Kenya. I don’t think we’re going to have a Grand Prix in Kenya, but Rwanda particularly was spectacular. Two places I felt like I could live. South Africa is stunning. 

"I think those are the ones I think would be good places for us to potentially go to. I don’t want to leave the sport without having a Grand Prix there, without getting to race there, so I’m chasing them: when is it going to be? 

"They’re setting certain dates, I’m like, damn, I could be running out of time, so I’m going to be here for a while until that happens, because that would be amazing, given that I’m half African. I’ve got roots from a few different places there, like Togo and Benin. 

"I went to visit Benin last year, Senegal and Nigeria. It’s something I’m really, really proud of. I’m really proud of that part of the world. I think it is the most beautiful part of the world, and I don’t like that the rest of the world owns so much of it and takes so much from it and no one speaks about it."

Hamilton calls for Africa action

The Ferrari driver has called for African nations to "all unite" in an attempt to take back control of its land, from the likes of France, Spain, Portugal and the UK.

"I’m really hoping that the people that are running those different countries all unite and come together and take Africa back," added Hamilton. 

"That’s what I want to see. Take it back from the French, take it back from the Spanish, take it back from the Portuguese and the British.

"It’s so important for the future of that continent. They have all the resources to be the greatest and most powerful place in the world, and that’s probably why they are being controlled the way they are. But anyways, move on."