You probably can’t think about Formula 1 without thinking about Lewis Hamilton. Such is the impact he has had on the sport. The 39-year-old has won 7 world titles; he is the leading race winner and pole sitter; he has almost 200 podiums, and we can go on and on.
But that’s not the only aspect of his life people know him for. His life off the track is just as interesting and meaningful.
He is always the one to set new fashion trends in the Formula 1 paddock. Hamilton also cares so deeply about the underprivileged and has made major contributions towards diversity and equal opportunity not only in the sport he loves but also in society. Williams driver, Alex Albon, who himself is a fashion enthusiast, recently spoke about Hamilton’s impact on the sport.
“He is just as [big as], if not bigger than, the sport,“ said Albon as per whowhatwear.com. The fact that Lewis Hamilton has 36 million plus followers on Instagram than F1 is proof of his popularity. Stake F1 driver Zhou Guanyu has also developed his own sense of fashion and he credits Hamilton with making it possible for drivers to express themselves however they want. “In the past, maybe 20 years ago, racing drivers were just about racing,” said Zhou. “Obviously, [Hamilton] was the first one to be open in that way, and it wasn’t easy. I fully remember the first time he did that. A lot of people were saying, ‘Why is he wearing that?’ And I was one of the guys who liked his fashion sense… It’s great that now we have more people using their own clothes in the paddock.“
Lewis Hamilton wants Ferrari to champion his mission to promote diversity in the sport
As the only black driver in F1, he’s faced discrimination firsthand. But instead of letting it slide with his success, he’s used his influence to push for diversity and inclusivity in the sport. He has helped Mercedes and F1 become more inclusive and now, as he prepares for a switch to Ferrari in 2025, Hamilton is already making a push for his social initiatives at Maranello. He’s had discussions with Ferrari’s chairman, John Elkann, stressing the need for progress in diversity and inclusion within the team.
“Ferrari, they have a lot of work to do so I’ve already made that a priority in speaking with [chairman] John [Elkann] and they are super-excited to get on and work on it also,” Hamilton was quoted in a Reuters report.
Unsurprisingly, Elkann has shown eagerness to address these issues alongside Lewis Hamilton. In his contract negotiations with Ferrari, Hamilton secured not only a substantial annual salary but also the role of a brand ambassador until 2035. Elkann has reportedly proposed a significant $400 million investment in Hamilton’s ventures, including his initiative, Mission 44. These negotiations highlight Hamilton’s influence and the importance of his social initiatives to both himself and Ferrari.
Do you think Hamilton will be able to end Ferrari’s championship drought and help the team get back to its winning ways in 2025? Share your insights and predictions in the comments down below.
