With three podiums in three weeks — including a historic home win at Silverstone — Lewis Hamilton is officially back on form. But even as he’s climbing back to the top of Formula 1, the seven-time world champion is already setting the pace in other arenas, from producing a big-budget F1 film starring Brad Pitt to launching his own non-alcoholic tequila. At thirty-nine, Hamilton isn’t just racing — he’s building a legacy.
Breaking the Winless Streak
When Hamilton crossed the finish line at Silverstone this summer, he did more than win a race — he ended a two-and-a-half-year drought. The victory marked his record ninth British Grand Prix title, and it came at the perfect moment: his final home race with Mercedes before heading to Ferrari in 2025.
“It couldn’t have been more magical.”
“Everyone called it a fairy tale,” Hamilton says, “and it really was. It had been such a long time — so many doubts and thoughts. But then it all clicked. To do it at home, with my family watching, in my final Silverstone with Mercedes — it meant everything.”
The years without wins weren’t easy. Hamilton describes them as a mental battle more than anything else. “Life is really about how much pain you can go through and still keep going. I’ve had to dig deep,” he says. “But hard work, persistence — those always pay off.”
Going Hollywood: Hamilton’s Formula 1 Film
Hamilton isn’t just content rewriting F1 history. He’s also rewriting scripts — literally. As co-producer of the upcoming Formula 1 film F1 starring Brad Pitt and directed by Top Gun: Maverick’s Joseph Kosinski, Hamilton is helping bring racing’s high-octane drama to the big screen.
“I sat with the writer and called bullshit.”
Hamilton was involved from day one. He vetted scripts, corrected unrealistic plot points, and pushed for accuracy. “There was a crash that had the car flip and keep going,” he laughs. “That doesn’t happen in Formula 1.”
He’s also been hands-on with casting, diversity, and even brought Hans Zimmer on board to compose the score. “Joe [Kosinski] has been amazing. He’s included me in everything — and that’s rare.”
Brad Pitt Behind the Wheel
And yes — Hamilton took Pitt for a spin. “We went to a track in L.A., and I was in the passenger seat. You can tell right away if someone has it — and Brad’s got it,” he says. “He just hasn’t had the time to sharpen those skills like we have. But he’s got serious potential.”
Training, Recovery, and Staying Sharp
At nearly 40, Hamilton is still competing against drivers half his age — and beating them. How? A holistic approach to health and recovery. “It’s a 360 game,” he says. “Stretching, physio, nutrition — it all matters. And sleep. Never slack on sleep.”
He also leans into creative outlets to recharge: music, reading, meditation. “I set up music in my hotel rooms. I write and sing. Usually R&B. It helps keep me balanced.”
Thinking Beyond Racing
Off the track, Hamilton’s partnership with brands like Ritz-Carlton has allowed him to give back. In Mexico City, he visited local schools — an experience that hit close to home. “That’s what my foundation is about — giving underrepresented kids access to opportunity. STEM, racing, life skills. That’s real impact.”
He’s also launched Almave, a non-alcoholic tequila brand. “Tapping into different creative spaces — it’s healthy. And when you work with people who are experts in their field, you learn so much,” he says.
On What Comes Next
After more than a decade with Mercedes, Hamilton is preparing to join Ferrari in 2025. But how long does he plan to keep racing?
“I have a mental timeline. I’ll know when to stop.”
“Some days I think, ‘I could use a break.’ You don’t get an off-season in F1. It’s constant — travel, training, recovery,” he says. “But I want to maximize it while I can. I don’t want to look back and wish I’d done one more year.”
Still, he’s not sticking around just for the sake of it. “If I’m not good, I’m not staying. I won’t race unless I’m all in. But right now? I still love it.”
Competing — and Winning — on His Own Terms
So what’s more satisfying: beating the young guns or standing on the podium with your team?
“I don’t care who I beat. I just want to win.”
“When I won recently, I didn’t think about the other drivers. I thought about my team — the people who stayed late, missed time with their families, worked on those parts. That’s who I race for,” he says.
Whether he’s mentoring Pitt on the racetrack or mixing drinks with Almave at the Ritz-Carlton, Lewis Hamilton is living life at full throttle — in every lane he enters.
