Lewis Hamilton has revealed that during the early days of his Formula 1 career, he felt pressured to hide his true self—especially when it came to fashion.
In a personal column for Vogue, Hamilton said a team boss once looked him up and down disapprovingly before he made it into F1, saying the experience left him feeling like he needed to change who he was.
“I was probably in FUBU and Timbs,” Hamilton recalled. “I remember thinking, Shoot, I’ve really got to fit into this mould.”
At the time, Hamilton felt pressure from both his team and his dad to conform to a certain look. He’d even secretly change clothes after leaving the house—swapping into baggy, stylish outfits, only to change back again before returning home.
“When I first signed with F1, I was only allowed to wear suits and team kits. It was horrible. I didn’t feel comfortable, and I didn’t feel like I was able to be myself.”
Now at age 40, Hamilton is known for his bold fashion choices and has become one of the sport’s most iconic figures, both on and off the track. He wore an all-red baggy Ferrari look at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix—his final weekend as a Mercedes driver—before joining Ferrari in 2025.
He’s also breaking new ground in the fashion world: next month, he’ll co-chair the 2025 Met Gala alongside stars like A$AP Rocky, Pharrell Williams, LeBron James, and Anna Wintour. The theme? Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.
Leading a Culture Shift in F1
Hamilton said it took courage to defy expectations, but now he’s proud to have inspired a shift in F1’s paddock culture. He recalls pushing back and insisting on wearing what made him feel confident and authentic.
“Eventually I said, ‘I want to turn up to the track in what I want to wear. I’m here now – you can’t get rid of me or change the way I dress.’”
The pushback from the sport was intense at first, but over time, his influence grew. Other drivers, like Pierre Gasly, have credited Hamilton for helping them feel more free to express themselves.
“When the sport saw the impact of my little runway, other drivers started doing the same thing,” he said.
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