Why Lewis Hamilton turned down the role of Top Gun / Formula 1

The Formula 1 star almost ended up on the front row of the Hollywood stage!

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton has revealed that he refused to participate in the Top Gun series “Maverick.”

Hamilton is currently working on an untitled Brad Pitt film about Formula 1, which will be filmed this past and present season. Also on board: director Joseph Kosinski and producer Jerry Bruckheimer. And Hamilton almost started another project with them before.

Brit also maintains a friendship with Top Gun star Tom Cruise. In an interview with GQ, Hamilton reveals what he said years ago to the star actor, the face of “Top Gun”: “I said, ‘You, if you ever do a second part …’ – at the time there were even rumors about it – ‘I would play even the housekeeper.’

Later, the planning of the next series “Top Gun: Maverick” really began. Cruise put Hamilton in touch with Kosinski. He offered the British racing driver a place as a pilot.
Problem: Hamilton was in the middle of the 2018 championship race.

Hamilton: “First of all, I’ve never had an hour of acting class. And I didn’t want to spoil the film. Second, I didn’t have time. It broke my heart when I had to tell Joe and Tom. And then of course I regretted it when they showed me the film: That could have been me!”

Later, a project surrounding the Formula 1 film came to the table, in which Hamilton is on board and, among other things, advises on what is possible in the race – and what is not. It is more in line with his daily life as a racing driver.

His move to Ferrari in 2025 shows that the 39-year-old Brit is not tired of motorsport and that the film business is more of a hobby.

“The world of racing is almost like the world of snow,” he says. “There’s so much more out there, but there’s not enough time to deal with it. If you go to the office every day and do the same thing over and over again, you’ll eventually get bored. Then you’ll have to find something else to balance it out to keep the mind active.”

Japan-GP, Suzuka Circuit

01. Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing, 1:54:23,566 h
02. Sergio Pérez (MEX), Red Bull Racing, +12.535 seconds
03. Carlos Sainz (E), Ferrari, +20,866
04. Charles Leclerc (MC), Ferrari, +26,522
05. Lando Norris (GB), McLaren, +29.700
06. Fernando Alonso (E), Aston Martin, +44,272
07. George Russell (GB), Mercedes, +45,951
08. Oscar Piastri (AUS), McLaren, +47.525
09. Lewis Hamilton (GB), Mercedes, +48,626
10. Yuki Tsunoda (J), Racing Bulls, +1 Round
11. Nico Hülkenberg (D), Haas, +1 lap
12. Lance Stroll (CDN), Aston Martin, +1 Round
13. Kevin Magnussen (DK), Haas, +1 Lap
14. Valtteri Bottas (FIN), clean, +1 lap
15. Esteban Ocon (F), Alpine, +1 Round
16. Pierre Gasly (F), Alpine, +1 Round
17. Logan Sargeant (USA), Williams, +1 Round

outside
Guanyu Zhou (RCH), Sauber, Elektrik
Alex Albon (T), Williams, Crash
Daniel Ricciardo (AUS), Racing Bull, Crash

World Championship Standings (after 4 out of 24 Grands Prix)

the driver
01. Verstappen 77 points
02. Perez 64
03. Leclerc 59
04. Sainz 55
05. Norris 37
06. Plate 32
07. Russell 24
08. Alonso 24
09. Hamilton 10
10. Walk 7
11. Tsunoda 7
12. Oliver Bearman (GB) 6
13. Hulkenberg 3
14. Magnussen 1
15. Alboni 0
16. Zhou 0
17. Ricciardo 0
18. Okon 0
19. 0 gas
20. Bota 0
21. Sergeant 0

Builders Cup
01. Red Bull Racing 141 Punkte
02. Ferrari 120
03. McLaren 69
04. Mercedes 34
05. Aston Martin 33
06. Running Bull 7
07. Especially 4
08. Williams 0
09. Sauber 0
10. Alpine 0