Lewis Hamilton wants F1 to return to South Africa 

F1 has moved to expand the calendar and explore new markets under the ownership of Liberty Media, with a return to the continent of Africa understood to be high on its list of priorities. 

South Africa last hosted an F1 race in 1993 at Kyalami but the grand prix’s boss Warren Scheckter has claimed the circuit would be ready to host a race by 2023.  

Ahead of this weekend’s United States Grand Prix, seven-time world champion Hamilton said he is eager to see a revival of the South African GP. 

“The place that I really feel is dear to my heart and most important for me is to get a race back in South Africa,” Hamilton responded when asked which country he would like to see F1 race in. 

"I think there’s a great following out there. I think it would be great to be able to highlight just how beautiful the motherland is.” 

F1 recently revealed a record-breaking draft calendar of 23 races for 2022 which includes the highly-anticipated inaugural event to take place in Miami. 

There is growing talk that F1 is targeting the addition of a third race in the United States in the near-future, possibly in Las Vegas. Hamilton is among several drivers who believe an additional race in the States would be positive for the sport. 

“The US Grand Prix is fantastic and it’s such a huge country, having just one race here isn’t enough to really be able to tap into the sporting culture here and really encapsulate the fans and get them on the journey with us,” he said. 

“I think definitely we need to have at least two but there are so many great cities to have a grand prix. They’re going to have one... Miami is going to be incredible, as is Austin. 

“I don’t know where they will have the next one, but I am not opposed to that. I think it’s quite cool to have these mini championships in these continents. It’s not a bad thing for the sport.”