Seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton is now a global superstar who commands his own schedule, but his assertive nature was evident even at the start of his career. In 2007, after his dramatic rookie season, Hamilton went against the wishes of his formidable McLaren team principal, Ron Dennis, to secure a coveted spot on the BBC's flagship motoring show, Top Gear.
The Ron Dennis Roadblock
Andy Wilman, the former chief producer of Top Gear, has revealed the behind-the-scenes negotiations to get the young Hamilton on the show's popular 'Star in a Reasonably Priced Car' segment. The sticking point was the car itself: a modest, light-blue Suzuki Liana. Wilman explained that McLaren's PR representative, Matt Bishop, relayed Dennis's reluctance, citing Hamilton's affiliation with Mercedes-Benz. Dennis reportedly asked if Hamilton could instead drive a Mercedes SLR.
"We were getting all Ron Dennis-ish-ness coming down the phone," Wilman told the Midweek F1 podcast. The Top Gear team argued that the entire premise relied on every celebrity driving the same basic car. Wilman recalled their frustration, thinking, "Jesus Christ, Ron, is anybody going to go, 'well, I'm going to buy a Liana now. I won't buy that S-Class'."
Hamilton Takes Charge
Ultimately, the decision was taken out of Dennis's hands by the driver himself. A young Hamilton, a lifelong fan of the show and its presenters Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May, personally intervened. "Lewis stepped in even as a kid and went, 'I'm doing Top Gear'," Wilman said. For Hamilton, it was a "red-letter day" to appear on a programme he had grown up watching.
His first appearance came after the 2007 season, where he had narrowly missed the championship by a single point following a fierce intra-team battle with Fernando Alonso. The track at Dunsfold in Surrey was wet that day, hampering his lap time.
Legacy on the Top Gear Track
Hamilton returned for a second attempt in 2013 on a drier day, where he set the fastest lap time of any Formula 1 driver in the show's history while driving the same Suzuki Liana. However, his record was later beaten before the segment ended, with Daniel Ricciardo eventually going seven-tenths of a second quicker in the identical car.
This early act of defiance highlights the determination that would become a hallmark of Hamilton's career, showing that even before his first championship, he was confident in pursuing the opportunities that mattered to him personally, against significant team pressure.
