5 Lesser Known Facts About F1 Legend Lewis Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton has been a force to be reckoned with in the Formula 1 circuit for quite some time. And while some of his newer fans were introduced to him through Netflix’s hit docuseries Formula 1: Drive to Survive, Hamilton’s legacy is far beyond streaming fame. When he’s not dominating the Grand Prix, he’s turning heads for an entirely different reason: his sharp sense of style.

Off the track, the British racing legend has become known as a style icon as he continues carving out an equally powerful lane in fashion. He's a fixture in front rows during fashion week, known for being caught by paparazzi in stylish fits, and he's a frequent Met Gala attendee. Hamilton, after all, was one of the early athletes to venture into fashion the way he did. He launched a collaborative collection with Tommy Hilfiger in 2018 and has since continued to work with the designer. This year, he’ll extend his fashion legacy as a 2025 Met Gala co-chair alongside A$AP Rocky, Pharrell Williams, and Colman Domingo where the theme ties to Black dandyism.

Keep scrolling for some surprising facts about the racing driver that are less known about Hamilton, including details on an almost early retirement, his business ventures, and who used to be his girlfriend.

He considered walking away from the racetrack.

The seven-time F1 World Drivers Championship title holder has nothing left to prove, after racing for more than 20 years. And he has the accolades to back up his legacy. But the 2021 season left him considering retirement after he felt he was robbed of an eighth driver title in an upset loss to Max Verstappen. Hamilton didn’t let his loss deter him though, as he’s since gone on to compete for Ferrari after his deal with Mercedes ended.

He actively advocates for representation in sports.

Hamilton has spent the entirety of his career advocating for more diversity in motorsport, and has often criticized Formula 1’s lack of inclusivity. Following the 2020 murder of George Floyd, he started the Hamilton Commission in an effort to create more opportunities for Black representation in U.K. motorsports.

He’s venturing into the movie business.

Hamilton’s talent on the racetrack is undeniable, but he also wants to take his talent to the big screen. In 2022, he founded his own production company called Dawn Apollo Films. The company’s upcoming projects include a film aptly titled F1, which is set to star Brad Pitt, and a documentary about Hamilton himself.

He’s briefly owned a vegan restaurant chain.

After becoming vegan in 2017, Hamilton co-founded a vegan restaurant chain called Neat Burger two years later. Leonardo DiCaprio was even an investor, but the company closed all its locations in 2025 following millions in losses.

He used to date Nicole Scherzinger. Who's his girlfriend now?

From 2007 to 2015, Hamilton was in an on-and-off again relationship with Pussycat Dolls frontwoman Nicole Scherzinger. The exes posed for photos together at the British Fashion Awards in 2019, indicating they were on good terms following their breakup. As of April 2025, Lewis Hamilton has no known girlfriend (though some suspect he may be dating Raye or Sofia Vergara), and he has never been married. In previous interviews, he's talked about this, emphasizing that winning races is his number one priority.