Mercedes recently posted a video of Lewis Hamilton racing a fighter aircraft in his 2021 race car W12 on a runway. In the promotional video, Hamilton is also seen flying in a fighter jet and giving out a “woohoo” in excitement. Fans had overwhelming reactions and expressed their disappointment at not being able to see their favorite F1 driver in Tom Cruise’s Top Gun: Maverick.
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Speed and Lewis Hamilton have a special relationship. While he has driven the fastest of cars on the track over the years, speed still thrills him. Add flying to that, and it’s a cherry on top for the 7-time world champion.
Lewis Hamilton almost landed a role in Top Gun: Maverick
Lewis Hamilton got inspired to become a fighter pilot after watching the original Top Gun in his childhood. He was so obsessed with the movie that he asked Tom Cruise to give him a role in the movie when he heard a sequel was in the making. Hamilton narrated his conversation with Tom in an interview with Vanity Fair.
Reuters
Formula One F1 – Japanese Grand Prix – Suzuka Circuit, Suzuka, Japan – October 9, 2022 Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton ahead of the race REUTERS/Issei Kato
He told Cruise, “I don’t care what role it is. I’ll even sweep something, be a cleaner in the back.” Tom cruise agreed to give him a role, not of a cleaner, but a fighter pilot alongside him.
However, it wasn’t to be as the shooting was to start while the F1 season was still on and Lewis couldn’t commit. Now that Mercedes posted a video of Hamilton flying in a fighter jet, fans lament the opportunity he missed.
He would've fit right in 🥲 what could've been 💫🤔 #TopGun
And to think.. he was supposed to be in Top Gun Maverick..😭DAMN IT!!
Callsign: G.O.A.T 🐐 When you go beyond the limit, choose a Top Gun watch as your wingman. ⏱️ #IWCRacing #IWCPilot
One fan recalled Red Bull’s similar video in the past, where they raced against a fighter jet.
Callsign: G.O.A.T 🐐 When you go beyond the limit, choose a Top Gun watch as your wingman. ⏱️ #IWCRacing #IWCPilot
They raced a fighter jet 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍
Callsign: G.O.A.T 🐐 When you go beyond the limit, choose a Top Gun watch as your wingman. ⏱️ #IWCRacing #IWCPilot
Holy shit that's cool @LewisHamilton @MercedesAMGF1 absolutely badass
Callsign: G.O.A.T 🐐 When you go beyond the limit, choose a Top Gun watch as your wingman. ⏱️ #IWCRacing #IWCPilot
One fan mesmerized by the black livery Mercedes sported last year wanted it to make a comeback.
BRING. BACK. THE. BLACK. LIVERY.
Callsign: G.O.A.T 🐐 When you go beyond the limit, choose a Top Gun watch as your wingman. ⏱️ #IWCRacing #IWCPilot
Watch This Story: Lewis Hamilton Jumps Off a Plane Amidst His Mental Health Woes
Dear god that car was sexier than we gave it credit for.
Callsign: G.O.A.T 🐐 When you go beyond the limit, choose a Top Gun watch as your wingman. ⏱️ #IWCRacing #IWCPilot
That's why he's the greatest of all time. 🚀
Callsign: G.O.A.T 🐐 When you go beyond the limit, choose a Top Gun watch as your wingman. ⏱️ #IWCRacing #IWCPilot
Read More: “Can You Drive?” – When Lewis Hamilton Questioned Fernando Alonso’s Ability During an Interview
This is not the first time Lewis Hamilton has been in a fighter aircraft. There was this one time when he passed out.
Hamilton once passed out while flying in an air force jet
Formula 1 drivers endure some heavy G force when driving an F1 car. They can pull anywhere between 4-6 Gs while cornering and go through 50-60 laps throughout the race with that. You’d think that they would easily go through a fighter jet ride. Well, that might not be the case as one of the fastest drivers, who has driven some of the fastest cars on the grid, Lewis Hamilton once passed out in a fighter aircraft.
Reuters
Formula One F1 – Italian Grand Prix – Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Monza, Italy – September 8, 2022 Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton during the press conference ahead of the Grand Prix REUTERS/Massimo Pinca
Lewis Hamilton once flew with the Red Arrows. Red Arrows are the Royal Air Force’s acrobatics display team. In Formula 1 we know them for doing a fly-past before Formula 1 races at Silverstone.
The 7-time world champion was instructed on how to keep his breathing in check before flying, but paid no heed to the warning and blacked out when the pilot took a sharp turn.