Lewis Hamilton came out in a bizarre floral print outfit as he arrived at qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix before performing below average to qualify for fifth position in tomorrow’s race – with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc on pole in the first race of the season.
Hamilton, 37, who recently announced he would change his name to include his mother’s maiden name, wore a Jacquemus ensemble with a dark purple and orange floral print.
His spectacular arrival was not replicated on the track as Mercedes continued to struggle with Hamilton’s fifth place on the grid, likely heightening fears of a poor season for the previously dominant team.
Leclerc’s pole position gives hope that Ferrari will be able to return to the success of past years after three years of poor performance on the track.
Red Bull’s world champion Max Verstappen rounds out the front row as he kicks off his campaign for a second straight championship following controversy following his narrow win at last year’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix that gave him his first victory.
Colourful: Lewis Hamilton, 37, showed off a flamboyant look in an unusual print outfit ahead of the Grand Prix at the Bahrain International Circuit on Saturday.
Striking: looking more fashionable than ever, he paired a structured zip over a shirt with matching wool-blend Bermuda shorts.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc starts from pole at the Bahrain Grand Prix, the first race of the 2022 Formula 1 season.
Fastest: Charles Leclerc drives during a qualifying session on the eve of the Bahrain Formula 1 Grand Prix at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir
Always fashion-conscious, he paired a structured zip over a shirt with matching wool-blend bermuda shorts.
Lewis added a pair of white Viron combat boots in vegan leather with a contrast chunky black sole.
To complete his look, the F1 ace covered his eyes in purple square-framed Louis Vuitton sunglasses, which cost him £595.
It came after the F1 superstar announced he was changing his name to include his mother’s maiden name.
He explained that he “doesn’t really quite understand the whole idea that when people get married, a woman loses her name.”
The seven-time world champion has said he intends to use his mother’s maiden name, Carmen Larbalestier, as his new middle name so that the surname can live with him.
Speaking ahead of the new F1 season starting Sunday in Bahrain, he said: “This will mean peace for my family.” [to win an eighth title]. It would be very important for me to know that, for example, I am really proud of my family’s last name: Hamilton.
Trendy: It comes when the F1 superstar announced he was changing his name to include his mother’s maiden name.
Family: He said: “My mother [sur]name is Larbalestier. And I’m just about to put that in my name” (pictured with his mother Carmen at Windsor Castle in December 2021).
Va va voom: Hamilton at the Bahrain Grand Prix on Saturday. Born Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton, a first-class driver, grew up in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, the son of Anthony and Carmen.
Speaking ahead of the new F1 season starting in Bahrain on Sunday, Hamilton (above) said: “This will mean peace for my family.” [to win an eighth title]. It would be very important for me to know that, for example, I am really proud of the name of my family: Hamilton.
He continued, “In fact, none of you may know that my mother [sur]name is Larbalestier. And I’m just about to put that in my name.
“Because I don’t quite understand why, when people get married, a woman loses her name. I really want her name to continue with Hamilton’s.”
Asked if it could be done by the weekend, Hamilton added. ‘It will be soon. No, I don’t know if it will be this weekend. But we are working on it.”
Born Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton, a professional racing driver, grew up in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, the son of Anthony and Carmen.
After Hamilton’s parents separated when he was two years old, he was raised by his mother until the age of 12, when he came to live with his father Anthony, stepmother Linda, and half-brother Nicholas.
Belgian-Dutch racer Max Verstappen, 24, arrived in the paddock with 33-year-old girlfriend Kelly Piqué ahead of the third practice session of the Bahrain Formula 1 Grand Prix.
The 33-year-old Brazilian model and columnist is the daughter of three-time Formula 1 world champion Nelson Piquet and the ex-girlfriend of former Formula 1 driver Daniil Kvyat, with whom she has a two-year-old daughter, Penelope Kvyat.
Kelly wore a plunging berry-print ruffled dress, paired with gold jewelry and a crochet cream £2190 Valentino shoulder bag with gold details.
Hamilton of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas in the garage during qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix at the Bahrain International Circuit.
The WAGs of the Formula One world have also been seen arriving at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir along with their other halves ahead of Sunday’s big race.
Belgian-Dutch racer Max Verstappen, 24, arrived in the paddock with 33-year-old girlfriend Kelly Piqué ahead of the third practice session of the Bahrain Formula 1 Grand Prix.
Kelly wore a low-cut berry-print ruffle dress with gold jewelry and a £2,190 crochet cream Valentino bag.
The 33-year-old Brazilian model and columnist is the daughter of three-time Formula 1 world champion Nelson Piquet and ex-girlfriend of former Formula 1 driver Daniil Kvyat, with whom she has a two-year-old daughter, Penelope Kvyat.
Kelly and Verstappen have been known to have been dating for over a year, with the Formula 1 driver making their relationship public on January 1, 2021.
Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain driving a Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team W13 on the track during qualifying for the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Bahrain.
Mexican Formula 1 driver Sergio Pérez of Red Bull Racing drives through the pit lane during qualifying for the Bahrain Formula 1 Grand Prix at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain on Saturday.
Qualifying runner-up Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing exits his car in an enclosed park during qualifying ahead of the Formula 1 Grand Prix.
Dutch Red Bull driver Max Verstappen (left) talks to Spanish Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz Jr. after qualifying ahead of the Bahrain Formula 1 Grand Prix