There’s no doubt about it, Lewis Hamilton is a driving force in the world of fashion. The Formula 1 driver has become almost as famous for his love of bright, bold, and eccentric outfits as he has for his seven championship titles, and there’s no sign of him putting the brakes on his wardrobe choices anytime soon. With the season officially over, Hamilton has regularly been spotted in the paddock over the year wearing an array of looks that put him in first place in the fashion stakes.
The 38-year-old has regularly discussed his personal style, which often includes a mix of emerging, diverse designers and pieces from larger fashion houses. In a 2022 interview with Vogue, Hamilton said: “Fashion is about freeing yourself – it’s about self-expression; it’s about you; it’s about slowly, over time, evolving and learning more about yourself and what you like and how you want to show up-how you want to be seen. What makes you feel great? It’s a great feeling when you put on a piece of clothing and throw your shoulders back and are just like: I feel great today. That’s what fashion does.”
And there’s no denying he has broken the mould for F1 drivers and style. “Everyone in general has started to be more and more open-minded and now no one comments on what I wear,” he told British GQ in an October 2023 interview. “It’s just like, ‘that’s what Lewis does’. But at the beginning, jeez, people definitely criticised. [Formula One] was an environment where you couldn’t really be yourself. Now you’re starting to see people really blossom, which is really cool.”
The vegan driver works with stylist Eric Mcneal, is conscious of the environmental impact of fashion, and is constantly striving to promote more diversity, both within motorsport and the fashion industry. He attended the Met Gala in 2021 and used his platform to invite three emerging Black designers to his table (Theophilio, Kenneth Nicholson, and Jason Rembert), which could have cost him over £20,000. He was also cast as the star of Valentino’s autumn/winter ’22 campaign, modelling Pierpaolo Piccioli pink alongside Zendaya, chosen for his influence beyond the racetrack.
Take a pit stop and scroll ahead for all the times Hamilton has turned the paddock into a runway this year.
