Lewis Hamilton F1 News: Mercedes star opens up on 'smoking fools' in STREET races

Lewis Hamilton astride a motorbike — Photo: © IMAGO

F1 News & Gossip

Hamilton opens up on 'smoking fools' in STREET races

The seven-time F1 champion appears on Hot Ones this week

Chris Deeley Editor

Experienced sports writer covering F1 and other motorsports since 2023

Thursday 30 May 2024 09:12

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Lewis Hamilton has revealed that he's had a history of wanting to race off the Formula 1 circuit, as well as on it.

In a promotional video for his highly anticipated appearance on popular show Hot Ones on Thursday, the seven-time world champion admitted that he was often tempted to race fellow road users in his youth.

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The show's YouTube channel, First We Feast, has amassed more than 13m subscribers with its gimmick of interviewing celebrities while they eat increasingly spicy hot wings.

Recent guests have included Thor star Chris Hemsworth, popular entertainer Conan O'Brian and actress Sydney Sweeney, with Hamilton now joining that star-studded list in the show's 24th season.

Lewis Hamilton will appear on Hot Ones this week

Hamilton will leave Mercedes at the end of the year

Hamilton: Let's smoke this fool

Hamilton revealed on the show that he often gets people wanting impromptu races with him when they see him in public, and admitted that he was often tempted into a little friendly competition when he was younger.

"I've had people be at traffic lights and want to race," he said, when asked how people react when they see him driving outside an F1 cockpit. "Definitely when I was young I felt like...let's smoke this fool."

TOMORROW on #HotOnes, @lewishamilton takes on the Wings of Death. ? Will he make it to the end? Find out @ 11AM ET. ? pic.twitter.com/d3pvDTk7Jn
— First We Feast (@firstwefeast) May 29, 2024

The British great has struggled somewhat in the 2024 season thus far, continuing a winless streak stretching back more than two years thanks in large part to Red Bull's continued dominance and Mercedes taking a backward step.

That winless run has prompted Hamilton to seek pastures new, signing on with Ferrari for the 2025 season in a move which will pair him with Monaco Grand Prix winner Charles Leclerc.

Lewis Hamilton Ferrari