Lewis Hamilton claims he won't retire until one thing happens in F1 career

Lewis Hamilton has claimed he will not retire until F1 host a race in Africa, claiming stakeholders are 'really trying' to make it a reality.

Hamilton heads into the 2026 season with significant speculation over his future in F1, after turning 41 in January.

The Brit endured his worst ever campaign in 2025, failing to score a podium for the first time and losing his head-to-head 18-3 to Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc.

Speaking to SPORTbible, Martin Brundle claimed Hamilton may have a unilateral contract until 2028, however, his performances have meant speculation over retirement is still rife.

Hamilton will begin attempting to prove his doubters wrong in Melbourne this weekend, where he insisted he will not be leaving the sport until he has raced in Africa.

“It is the most beautiful part of the world," Hamilton told the media in Australia.

“I’ve had the privilege, I’ve been to 10 countries now in Africa, there’s still so much more for me to see."

Lewis Hamilton in Melbourne (credit: getty)

The Ferrari man also revealed he has been in talks with F1 officials to try and get a deal over the line.

"For the past six years, I think, maybe seven, I’ve been fighting in the background to get a Grand Prix in Africa," he continued.

"Sitting with the stakeholders and asking them ‘why are we not in Africa? We’re on every other continent, why not Africa?’”

F1 hasn't raced on the continent since the 1993 South African grand prix, but Hamilton is convinced a return to Africa is closer than ever.

“I know they’re really trying, I think they’ve been to quite a few different countries," he explained.

Hamilton also named three nations he believes could be the most suitable, adding: "The ones that I’ve enjoyed the most so far, I loved Kenya, Rwanda particularly was spectacular, two places I felt like I could live in/

."South Africa is stunning, I think those are the ones that I think would be good places for us to potentially go to.

“I don’t want to leave the sport within having a Grand Prix there, without getting to race there. I’m gonna be here for a while until that happens because that’ll be amazing, given that I’m half African," he insisted.