Hamilton forgets eighth F1 title as Mercedes star names one retirement condition

18 December 2023 , 19:20

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Lewis Hamilton is determined to get South Africa back on the F1 calendar (Image: HOCH ZWEI/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images)

Lewis Hamilton admits he is determined to get the South African Grand Prix back on the calendar before he retires.

The Mercedes star has committed his short-term future to the Silver Arrows as he approaches 40 with the elusive eighth world title within his sights. Hamilton has struggled for competitiveness in recent seasons but his ultimate aim looks to be a return to Kyalami.

The 2.8 mile circuit last hosted an F1 race in 1993, which saw Alain Prost win for Williams en route to his fourth and final world title. Since then though South Africa - and the continent of Africa as a whole - has been without a race on the calendar.

Hamilton was addressing supporters in the fan zone before the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix when he said: “I’m working in the background to get South Africa on the race. That’s like such a dream for me. I’ve gotta stay until they get that race…”

The Brit has long looked to expand the sport's fanbase and has attempted to make good of his status as F1's only black driver. His desire to return to South Africa is nothing new with Hamilton speaking of his motivation eight years ago.

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In 2015 he told the BBC : “I would love for it to be in South Africa. They are great sporting fans and are just petrolheads who love cars. I would love to go there, it would be absolutely insane. There is a huge following there and it is one of the most important Grands Prix we need to get on the calendar.

"This is the first time that black South Africans have had someone to relate to in this sport. I feel incredibly privileged to be at the front of that."

Alain Prost won the last Grand Prix to be held in South Africa

The F1 calendar continues to grow and reaches every continent but Africa. The likes of Saudi Arabia, America and the Netherlands have seen races added to the calendar. Zandvoort, the Dutch track, recently returned after years without being used by F1.

Kyalami has been used 21 times by F1 in the past and bosses have discussed the possibility of returning, but no deal has yet been struck amid calls for the calendar to be shortened - not lengthened. The sport first went to the South African circuit in 1967 with Pedro Rodriguez taking the chequered flag.

Other greats like Jim Clark, Sir Jackie Stewart and Gilles Villeneuve have also won there. In 2023, the FIA stated that the South African Grand Prix would not return to the F1 calendar for the near future due to the South African government's stance on the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Samuel Meade