Hamilton wants Formula 1 to focus on city races

Lewis Hamilton has asked Formula 1 to focus on city tracks in the future as he believes that is the path to ensuring the sport has the biggest impact.

With seven street circuits already on the calendar, and an eighth in the shape of Las Vegas set to be added next year, city-based tracks are becoming increasingly popular.

The latest grand prix in Miami was the debut of a new street circuit and while it had teething problems on track, the off-track atmosphere has been praised as one not seen in Formula 1 before.

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One man who has seen the potential of street circuits is Hamilton, who has gone as far as encouraging the sport’s schedulers to focus more on city tracks in the future.

While he said he enjoyed racing on historic circuits, he also said the pandemic had made him realise the importance of having fans in the stands.

“I’m a bit old school,” Hamilton told reporters. “So of course I love the history, particularly at certain circuits, but the older I get the more I realise it’s about the people.

“We could go to the middle of nowhere that has very few people, not great accommodation, not great community and for us as individuals driving on a track that’s historic is cool – but it’s about the people.

“And the people really do make it. We’ve experienced, with the pandemic, nobody being in there and that’s just no atmosphere. It was like a test day. It was not enjoyable. And