Lewis Hamilton Bursts Out Laughing at Richard Hammond’s Good Luck Message
Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton was left in stitches after receiving a pre-recorded good luck message from British TV presenter Richard Hammond ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix.
Hamilton, who enjoyed a strong start to the F1 2026 season in Australia with a fourth-place finish—matching his best result with Ferrari—was caught off guard when the clip played at a Shell event ahead of this week’s Shanghai race.
Hammond, longtime Top Gear presenter, delivered the message on behalf of Ferrari partner Shell, saying:
“Lewis! The folks at Shell Helix have asked me to send you a message, rather thoughtfully. Obviously, they’ll probably want me to talk about how Shell and Ferrari have worked together for 75 years, making already very fast cars even faster.”
Ferrari has emerged as one of Mercedes’ biggest challengers this season, with Hamilton’s teammate Charles Leclerc finishing third behind race winner George Russell and Kimi Antonelli in Australia.
Ahead of the Chinese GP, Hamilton also confirmed that Ferrari’s rotating rear wing will make its return, despite acknowledging potential drawbacks.
Hammond added with a wink:
“But I’m not going to do that. No. Technically, I just did… Still, Shell Helix is Ferrari’s oil of choice, and it’s good to know it will be there working hard for you when you’re in your car.”
Hamilton couldn’t contain his laughter at the playful message, adding some light-hearted moments ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai.
Hammond concluded warmly:
“That’s the important bit, because what I really want to say is all the very best for the forthcoming Grand Prix in Shanghai. We shall all be watching. All the best, mate. Good luck.”
Hamilton’s laughter at the playful message highlighted the lighter side of F1, bringing some fun ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix.
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Hamilton Bursts Out Laughing at Richard Hammond’s Surprise Message
Lewis Hamilton couldn’t contain his laughter after receiving a pre-recorded good luck message from British TV presenter Richard Hammond ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai.
Hamilton, who appeared twice on Top Gear during Hammond’s tenure on the now-defunct BBC show, was invited to react to the clip at a Ferrari event with long-term partner Shell. He said:
“I’ve never met him before. I don’t really know him… I’ve seen him on TV a couple of times. So it’s very strange, I was not expecting to see him of all people.”
When asked why Hammond had been chosen to deliver the message, Hamilton quipped:
“Why did you choose… him?”
The crowd laughed as he quickly added:
“I don’t know, it could have been anyone. But it’s nice. The message was really nice. Thank you so much.”
Hammond’s message, delivered on behalf of Shell, included words of encouragement for the Chinese GP:
“All the very best for the forthcoming Grand Prix in Shanghai. We shall all be watching. All the best, mate. Good luck.”
Hamilton admitted he was surprised by the gesture:
“I grew up watching his shows. It caught me by surprise. He’s a Shell ambassador?”
The event host confirmed Hammond’s involvement with Shell, noting his influence in motorsport culture. Hamilton added:
“Yeah, he’s driven everything.”
Hammond’s message comes just weeks after his daughter Izzy participated in a Formula E demonstration in Jeddah, the site of the Saudi Arabian GP, where she crashed into a wall at the final corner but thankfully escaped uninjured.