In an interview published by the magazine GQthe British racing driver says he regrets having refused the role of fighter pilot that he was offered in Top Gun: Maverick released in 2022.
American actor Tom Cruise, 61, who reprized his role as Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, has been friends with Lewis Hamilton since 2014. The two became friends when Cruise invited the British driver on set filming his film Edge of Tomorrow.
In 2018, Tom Cruise put his friend in touch with the film’s director, Joseph Kosinski, to play the role of a fighter jet pilot. But by then Lewis Hamilton declined, with filming coinciding with the F1 season in which he was battling driver Sebastian Vettel for the championship.
“On the one hand, I had no preparation involved,” said Lewis Hamilton in his interview with GQ. And I didn’t want to be the one to disappoint. Then, I didn’t have the time to devote myself to this project. I remember having to say that to Joe and Tom, and it broke my heart. Afterwards, obviously, when I saw the film, I regretted it. I said to myself: it could have been me! »
Lewis Hamilton can take comfort in having at least won the Formula 1 championship that year.