Lewis Hamilton turned heads by ditching dress codes. Now, the F1 paddock is as stylish as the cars tearing through it.
Lewis Hamilton didn’t just change the game on track, he rewrote the dress code, too.
These days, Hamilton is as much a fashion icon as he is a racing legend. His bold, unpredictable outfits, especially on Thursdays when drivers first arrive at the paddock, have become a photo-op tradition — even a source of playful bets among photographers. But this confident style didn’t come overnight. In fact, Hamilton says he spent years hiding his true self.
In a recent interview with Vogue, where he also graces the cover, the seven-time world champion opened up about how restricted he felt early in his career — especially during his time with McLaren.
“Right before I got to Formula 1, I remember being looked up and down by my boss — Ron Dennis — and he was clearly unimpressed with what I was wearing,” Hamilton recalled. “I think I had on FUBU and Timbs. That moment made me feel like I had to fit into a box.”
He admitted that, early on, he would leave home dressed one way, change outfits on the road into something that felt more “him,” enjoy his night out, then change back before heading home. It was a quiet rebellion — a way to hold on to who he really was.
Once in F1, though, that freedom disappeared. At McLaren, he was required to wear team gear at all times — and it stifled him.
“It was awful,” he said. “I didn’t feel comfortable, and I definitely didn’t feel like I could express myself.”
Everything shifted when he joined Mercedes. Hamilton began negotiating more freedom in his wardrobe — and with that came a wave of change in the sport. His fearless fashion choices soon opened the door for others. Drivers like Guanyu Zhou have since embraced more personal style, particularly on media days.
“I’m at a point now where I can’t — and won’t — hide who I am,” Hamilton said. “The reaction was huge. But when the sport saw the impact of me just showing up dressed as myself, others followed.”
What was once unthinkable is now a vibe. Thursdays in the paddock have become a mini runway — vibrant, diverse, and refreshingly individual. And it all started with Hamilton deciding to wear what he wanted, even if it meant challenging the status quo.
“Eventually, I found the courage to break those limits and say, ‘Look, I want to show up in what I feel good in.’ And if that helped others feel like they could do the same, that’s a win. We’re seeing more personality now. It’s more fun.”
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Hamilton’s Style Revolution: F1’s Paddock Gets a Glow-Up
Hamilton’s Style Revolution: F1’s Paddock Gets a Glow-Up
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