F1 News: Hope Arises for Lewis Hamilton’s South African F1 Dream as Zanzibar Emerges as Promising Host

“A huge, huge dream for me” were Lewis Hamilton‘s words when he spoke about racing in Africa during a recent interview with ESPN. And while the Kyalami track has been on Hamilton’s bucket list for years, a new track in Africa said to be in the work might just be something he wants just as much.

Rumors around a new race track being made in Zanzibar have been circulating the Paddock ever since June 2023. In September 2022, the East Africa project for a racing circuit in Zanzibar gained approval from Zipa, a government body on the African island. The official assignment of a 2.5 square km area in the southwest of the island to investors was completed in November 2023, and it looks like it’s finally happening!

Zanzibar becomes a prospect for Lewis Hamilton’s desire to race in Africa

The Zanzibar circuit is the new target on Lewis Hamilton’s radar. The circuit is currently being worked on by Cristian Bortolato, the head of the project responsible for the construction of the track. This means that a future track in Zanzibar might not remain a dream but turn into a reality that Hamilton has been hoping for.

During the ESPN interview, Hamilton said, “I have been chatting about racing in Miami and the next one I’ve been talking about is South Africa.” “With a new track set to come about in Zanzibar,  … It’s a real big dream for me to race in South Africa, and race in Africa in my career is a huge, huge dream for me,”. 

Even the CEO of the Formula One Group Stefano Domenicali has emphasized the importance of bringing the sport back to Africa, considering it a “top priority.” Domenicali stressed the need to find the right partners and establish a sustainable middle-term plan to ensure a long-term presence in Africa.

Domenicali, in an interview with Sky Sports, highlighted the need to avoid a scenario where Formula 1 goes to Africa for just one year and then forgets about it.

Lewis Hamilton lost the chance to fulfill his dream of driving in Africa

Lewis Hamilton, despite his success and influence, could not realize his dream of bringing the South African Grand Prix back to the Formula 1 calendar. He actively supported the bid to have the South African GP reinstated and fought for its inclusion.

The Kyalami track, where the South African GP was proposed to be held, played a crucial role in the negotiations. The track was rented out, and the caretakers initially quoted $500,000 as the price for promoters to use the track for the Grand Prix.

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After Formula 1 officials left, the track owner changed the terms of the deal, leading to a breakdown in negotiations. The government, sensing the internal conflict, withdrew its support, which made the entire deal collapse.

Despite the setback, Jody Scheckter expressed optimism, suggesting that the possibility of having the South African Grand Prix might resurface in the future. He mentioned that the track owner’s greed was the primary obstacle and that future negotiations would be done better. With that said, when do you think we can expect an African GP to happen? Let us know in the comments below.

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