Not many of us would know where or what Benin is. But what if we told you Lewis Hamilton is deeply connected with it? Let’s break the suspense. Benin is a French-speaking, West African country. It is the birthplace of the Vodun religion and the Dahomey Kingdom (1600–1900). The F1 star finds his ancestral roots in this rich country and has always had the desire to visit it.
Thanks to the summer break, Hamilton doesn’t have to hustle on the track until the last week of August. So, tracing back to his forebears, the 7th world champion has finally found his way to Benin. And guess who is hosting the champion? The Royal Family of Abomey, aka, the bloodline of the Dahomey Kingdom,.
The King of F1 at the royal household of a West African country speaks volumes of his worth. This also shows how popular he is, even in the lesser-known province of Benin. An X user tweeted that Lewis Hamilton has his foot on the Beninese soil for “a journey full of emotion and discovery.” They also updated that the King himself is receiving Hamilton in Abomey. In 2007, Benin released a special stamp to celebrate the debut of their native son, Lewis Hamilton.
🇧🇯 Lewis Hamilton, septuple champion du monde de F1, a foulé le sol béninois pour un voyage empreint d'émotion et de découverte. Actuellement en visite à Abomey, il est reçu par le Roi, explorant ainsi la terre de ses ancêtres. pic.twitter.com/fUwT944zC8
— Actualités229 (@actualites229) August 10, 2024
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We can barely imagine the experiences and emotions Lewis might be going through right now. To be in the presence of the Royal Family on the soil of his ancestors sounds ethereal. Moreover, Hamilton’s love for Africa and its culture isn’t unknown. The extent of which has reached his side quests. He recently collaborated with Dior to create skiing wear inspired by African designs. At the same time, Hamilton’s frequent visits to the country could reopen the gates for F1.
Lewis Hamilton’s dedication to Africa could become pivotal for F1’s return to the country.
Despite the calendar expansion, one aim remains missed for F1: to race on the African track once more. The 1993 South African GP at Kyalami was the last time the zenith of motorsports took its parade there. Three decades later, nothing much has changed; Africa remains outside the calendar. Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton have publicly expressed their desires to drive on African soil. If people show encouragement and interest, the organizers might consider including the country.
“The place that I feel, to my heart, is most important to me is to get a race back in South Africa,” said Hamilton back in 2021. “I think it would be great to highlight how beautiful the motherland is.” Verstappen shared similar sentiments and stated, “I think we need a race in Africa. We race on every other continent already, so I think that’s the next step for Formula 1.” Kyalami had been on F1’s radar for quite some time; however, Rwanda has emerged as a new interest. F1 president and CEO Stefano Domenicali confirmed a meeting would take place late in September to discuss the project. And hopefully, Africa could return to the whirlwind F1 calendar soon.
