Watchonista Redux: Our Sit Down With Lewis Hamilton

A few years back, we sat down with the reigning F1 champion to discuss racing and watches.

By Josh Shanks

Contributor

Watchonista is no stranger when it comes to interviewing legends of motorsports. From Mario Andretti to Michael Schumacher, we’ve interviewed our fair share of podium toppers. Luckily, thanks to our friends at IWC, we were given the rare opportunity to sit down with now seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton.

IWC Ambassador and F1 Seven-time Formula 1 World Champion, Lewis Hamilton

Read Our Interview With Lewis Hamilton

Our Sit Down With Lewis Hamilton

During the 2018 United States Grand Prix weekend in Austin, Texas, Hamilton graciously took time out of his busy schedule to sit down with Watchonista. We covered a range of topics, from his first nice watch (a 19 quid watch he bought in high school) to finding the right balance between life as a racing legend and being a global fashion icon.

Josh Shanks and Lewis Hamilton

While F1 is a team sport, Lewis Hamilton stands out as unique for how he continuously reinvents himself. From global causes to fashion, he’s always at the forefront of relevancy. And thanks to IWC, he’s always on time.

Lewis Hamilton taking a group wrist shot in Austin with IWC

Read Our Interview With Lewis Hamilton

IWC and Lewis Hamilton

Since 2013, IWC and Hamilton have partnered on the track and off. And as an official IWC Ambassador, Hamilton is the de facto face of the brand in the world of motorsports. On race weekends, his Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team sports IWC livery on their cars and the brand was likely the first watch brand to emblazon the image of a timepiece on a team’s driving gloves.

Lewis Hamilton © Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd

In 2019, the brand launched the Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Edition “Lewis Hamilton,” and last year, Hamilton wore a specially designed “Black Lives Matter” Perpetual Calendar Pilot’s Watch in Ceratanium. It’s clear that the relationship between driver and brand shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

IWC “Lewis Hamilton” Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar

These days, Hamilton can be spotted on race weekends wearing a Big Pilot's Watch 46, which is similar in style to the IWC Big Pilot's Watch 43 released this year, a collection perfectly befitting THE most successful Formula One driver of all time.