He’s better known for his fact-paced feats on the track, but Lewis Hamilton very nearly felt the need for speed of an entirely different kind thanks to his friendship with Tom Cruise.

The Formula 1 ace, currently enduring a torrid time at the Tokyo Grand Prix, admits he was offered a role in the Hollywood star’s 2022 blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick.

A sequel to the legendary 1986 film starring Cruise as Naval Aviator Lieutenant Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, the film grossed $1.496 billion worldwide and is widely credited for pulling Hollywood out of the financial hole created by COVID-19 and the global pandemic.

But Hamilton, 39, was left to rue a missed opportunity after conflicting schedules resulted in the Mercedes driver turned down a cameo role.

Speaking to GQ, he admitted to begging for a role in the film years before principal photography began, when the prospect of a potential sequel was first mooted by Cruise.

He’s better known for his fact-paced feats on the track, but Lewis Hamilton very nearly felt the need for speed of an entirely different kind thanks to his friendship with Tom Cruise

The Formula 1 ace, currently enduring a torrid time at the Tokyo Grand Prix, admits he was offered a role in the Hollywood star’s 2022 blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick (picured)

‘I said, “Dude, if you ever do Top Gun 2, I will even be a janitor. Just let me be in it,”‘ he recalled.

Despite Hamilton’s limited acting ability, good-natured Cruise introduced him to the film’s director, Joseph Kosinski, but the driver soon realised he couldn’t commit to a role.

‘Firstly, I hadn’t even had, like, an acting lesson,’ he said. ‘And I don’t want to be the one that lets this movie down.

‘And then secondly, I just really didn’t have the time to dedicate to it. I remember having to tell Joe and Tom — and it broke my heart.’

He added: ‘And then I regretted it, naturally, when they show me the movie and it’s: “It could’ve been me!”‘

Hamilton’s admission comes after he stormed out of an interview in the paddock following his ninth-place finish at the Japanese Grand Prix.

The seven-time world champion’s struggles continued as he picked up just two points, as his worst ever start to a Formula One season continued.

Mercedes opted for a bold tyre strategy following the early red flag from Alex Albon and Daniel Ricciardo’s crash, as both Hamilton and George Russell attempted a one-stop strategy after the restart.

Hamilton’s worst ever start to a season continued with a ninth-place finish in Japan during the Tokyo Grand Prix (pictured on April 7)

Lewis Hamilton enjoys his summer break as he tries out surfing

Hamilton walked away from an interview after he was asked whether he was ‘jealous’ over the speed of Ferrari – the team that he will be joining in the 2025 season

They switched back to two-stops after Hamilton sharply insisted over the team radio: ‘Change the strategy.’

After the race, a reporter asked if he was jealous of Ferrari – the team he will drive for next year – after they finished third and fourth with Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc.

Hamilton was not impressed with the question as he retorted: ‘Do you have any better questions?’

The reporter apologised but before they could ask a further question, Hamilton walked away and his press officer simply said: ‘Thank you.’

In an another interview, Hamilton revealed that he suffered damage after the restart following contact with Leclerc.

He said: ‘The car is never what I hoped it would be. It’s never what we hoped it would be.

‘I got some damage I think in the first stint at the restart with Charles [Leclerc] and I had massive understeer, like huge, huge understeer.

‘So that’s why I decided to let George [Russell] by, because he seemed quicker and I just couldn’t turn the car.

‘It took us two stints to finally dial more and more wing in to make up for that loss. Last stint, I was better, but it was too late, I had 10 seconds to regain.’

Hamilton struggled during the race and had to let team-mate George Russell through