Lewis Hamilton Takes Inspiration From 18th Century Gardener For Met Gala Return After Miami GP

Following the Miami Grand Prix weekend, seven-time Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton swapped the racing suit for high fashion at the 2024 Met Gala in Manhattan. This year marked the Formula 1 star's fifth appearance at the prestigious event.

Fresh off the track from the Miami Grand Prix in which he finished in sixth position, Formula 1 icon Lewis Hamilton graced the Met Gala, bringing his distinct flair for style to the forefront of one of fashion's biggest nights. Hamilton, known for his bold fashion, attended the 2024 gala, following up a spectacular celebration of a new partnership with WhatsApp along with Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, which famously culminated in the temporary closing of Fifth Avenue in New York.

At the Met Gala, held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute in New York, the theme was "The Garden of Time," curated under the keen eye of Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour. The British driver embraced the theme wholeheartedly, drawing inspiration from John Ystumllyn, an 18th-century figure who is recognized as the UK's first black gardener. Ystumllyn, originally abducted from Africa, made significant contributions to British horticulture after settling in Wales.

Hamilton commented to Vogue during his red carpet appearance, as quoted by BBC:

"What I love about the Met, and what Anna [Wintour] does with the Met, is that I'm able to really deep dive into the theme. I did a lot of research and I came across this 18th Century gardener who, through slavery times, came across from Africa to Wales and became the first black gardener in Wales.

"Through adversity, he really triumphed, so that's where the inspiration really came from."

Hamilton's outfit featured thorny embellishments, symbolizing the painful legacy of the slavery trade, while highlighting the resilience and beauty of Ystumllyn's story. Inside his Burberry jacket, a poignant poem written by Children's Laureate Wales poet Alex Wharton, inspired by Ystumllyn's life, offered further depth to his ensemble. The poem read:

I hope the sun pours light upon our skin. And we melt into each other, into everything. Maybe the trees will speak, as they sometimes do. Whispers from the shade - Run, run away.

The Mercedes driver attended the Met Gala a day after wrapping up the Miami Grand Prix which saw Lando Norris celebrate on the top step of the podium. Speaking to Sky Sports F1 after the race, Hamilton congratulated Norris on his maiden win, commenting:

"I feel really happy for Lando. I just told him he needs to stay tonight. He's going to try and change his flight. He's got to. He just won a race. But such a special moment to win your first grand prix and obviously I started at McLaren, so really happy to see them back at the top. It's been a long time."