Hamilton turned down Top Gun role due to F1 commitments

The seven-time world champion has previously made it clear he was a huge fan of the original 1986 Top Gun film, which Hamilton says left him fixated on becoming a fighter pilot as a child. 

Hamilton, who has enjoyed cameo acting roles in Zoolander 2, as well as a voice actor part in Cars 2 and Cars 3, was offered the chance to star alongside Cruise in his dream role as a fighter jet pilot in the hugely successful Top Gun sequel.

"Basically I'm a friend of Tom Cruise," Hamilton said in an interview with Vanity Fair.  

"One of the nicest people you'll ever meet. He invited me to his set years ago when he was doing 'Edge of Tomorrow', and then we just built a friendship over time.

"When I heard the second one was coming out, I was like, 'Oh, my God, I have to ask him'. I said 'I don't care what role it is. I'll even sweep something, be a cleaner in the back’.” 

But Hamilton had to reject the opportunity when it emerged filming would clash with his hectic F1 schedule. 

"I'm a perfectionist,” explained the 37-year-old, who admitted turning down the role was "the most upsetting call that I think I've ever had.” 

Although he is not set to appear in it, Hamilton is currently working on the script of an F1-themed Hollywood film he is producing alongside Brad Pitt. 

Speaking about the movie ahead of this year’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix in June, Hamilton said: “It’s a really cool project. 

“I can’t necessarily say that all the racing movies in the past have been spectacular, and that’s something we want to change.

“It’s really about showing how great the sport really is to people that maybe have never watched it, but also making sure that we really keep the real heritage and the true racing spirit within in the movie within the script.

“I’m very much involved in the script which is fun and spending good time with Brad which is pretty epic - seeing his progress.”

Hamilton open to racing beyond 2023 

Despite his other interests in fashion, music and film, Hamilton has hinted he could continue to race in F1 beyond 2023. 

Hamilton’s contract with Mercedes expires at the end of next year but the Briton says he is “still on the mission” in F1 following his gut-wrenching title defeat to Max Verstappen last year and a difficult start to the current season. 

"I'll be lying if I said that I hadn't thought about extending," Hamilton said.

"I'm still on the mission, I'm still loving driving, I'm still being challenged by it. So I don't really feel like I have to give it up anytime soon.”

In the same interview, Hamilton opened up about how his “worst fears came alive” in the controversial 2021 season finale in Abu Dhabi, admitting he was left in “disbelief” with how the race unfolded.