Otmar Szafnauer has criticised Lewis Hamilton’s Formula 1 paddock fashion and suggested that the Ferrari driver times his arrival to attract photographers, but recent first-hand observations present a very different picture of the seven-time world champion.
Hamilton’s bold clothing has made his arrival at Grand Prix venues part of the spectacle surrounding a Formula 1 weekend. The Briton often enters the paddock wearing distinctive outfits before changing into Ferrari’s official team kit, drawing admiration from some fans and criticism from others.
The former Alpine team principal firmly belongs to the second group. However, the image described by Szafnauer no longer appears to reflect how Hamilton generally moves around the paddock, with regular attendees reporting that he has become increasingly difficult for photographers to capture.
Otmar Szafnauer criticises Lewis Hamilton’s paddock fashion
Lewis Hamilton has built a wider commercial identity around his Formula 1 career, with interests spanning fashion, music and cinema. Clothing has consequently become an important part of his public image, allowing him to express a more individual style than many of his fellow drivers.
Appearing on the High Performance podcast, Otmar Szafnauer contrasted Hamilton’s approach with the more understated routine of Max Verstappen. The Anglo-Romanian engineer maintained that Verstappen was consistently the first driver to arrive at the circuit, whereas Hamilton waited until photographers were present before entering in his more extravagant outfits.
Szafnauer presented the difference as evidence that the British driver was deliberately seeking attention. He also joked that Hamilton could carry off such an approach whereas he could not, before suggesting that the seven-time world champion’s fashion sense may have helped his recent relationship with Kim Kardashian.
The comments add another off-track dimension to comparisons between Hamilton and Verstappen. Although both are multiple world champions, they have developed distinctly different public identities, with Verstappen generally favouring a quieter image and Hamilton embracing fashion as part of his life beyond racing.
Recent Lewis Hamilton paddock behaviour tells a different story
Regular observations by the ScuderiaFans.com team have challenged Szafnauer’s description of Hamilton’s current paddock routine. Its personnel attend numerous Formula 1 events and report that the Ferrari driver has become notably elusive around photographers in recent years.
Rather than making a carefully staged entrance through the main paddock gates, The Briton reportedly favours quieter secondary access points where fewer people are waiting. He has also been observed covering his face in an attempt to prevent staff members from taking photographs.
That behaviour contrasts sharply with the claim that the Briton arrives only when cameras are ready to capture his clothing. It suggests that, whatever Lewis Hamilton’s previous approach may have been, his more recent priority has often been to enter the paddock with less attention.
Szafnauer’s last regular F1 paddock role ended in 2023
The timing of Otmar Szafnauer’s departure from a permanent Formula 1 position may help explain the conflicting accounts. His last regular appearances as a team principal came around the 2023 Belgian Grand Prix, when his tenure with Alpine ended.
Hamilton’s routine appears to have evolved since that period. Although his outfits remain highly visible whenever photographs are taken, their prominence does not necessarily reveal how or when he entered the venue.
The fashion debate also sits alongside more pressing sporting matters for the Ferrari driver. Hamilton is involved in a demanding 2026 Formula 1 championship campaign, while the Maranello team continues assessing how effectively it has converted the SF-26’s performance into results.
His public image will inevitably continue dividing opinion, particularly because few Formula 1 drivers have developed such a recognisable presence away from the circuit. Nevertheless, recent paddock observations indicate that Hamilton’s distinctive wardrobe should not automatically be interpreted as evidence that he is actively pursuing photographers.
Szafnauer’s criticism reflects his personal view of the seven-time world champion’s presentation. The more recent account portrays Hamilton differently: still expressive through fashion, but increasingly selective about when and where the cameras can find him.
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