Some people might reckon Lewis Hamilton is more than just a driver in Formula One; the seven-time world champion is a brand to the sport itself and has unknowingly played a crucial factor in the recent spurt in fan-following.

Unlike other drivers, Hamilton owns a career in many other fields, including the ever-growing fashion industry and Hollywood (thanks to recent rumors claiming Hamilton’s potential part in an upcoming Formula One-based film starring Brad Pitt).

Hence, the number of followers on social media for Lewis Hamilton has always been on a subtle rise regardless of whether an F1 season is active or not. Part of the reason is obviously his active presence on social media posting stories, pictures, and other personal updates quite often.

However, ever since the heartbreaking title showdown in Abu Dhabi, the Briton is nowhere to be seen. Over a month has passed by and Hamilton continues to hide away from Instagram. Hence, citing his inactivity, it would make sense if his number of followers plummeted.

Watch Story: When F1 Drivers Had a Blast on Top Gear Featuring Hamilton, Vettel & Ricciardo

Instagram profile of Lewis Hamilton reveals an unexpected stat

As mentioned earlier, it is quite reasonable for anyone’s number of Instagram followers to fall if they remain inactive for a certain period of time. And one might expect the same logic to apply to Hamilton as well. However, quite bizarrely, that isn’t the case.

The seven-time world champion’s Instagram profile has instead seen a serious jump in the number of followers. In the past month, Hamilton has reportedly gained almost a million followers. Shocking isn’t it?

More than shocking, this is quite impressive, considering he has posted no updates whatsoever in the last 30 days. The only time Hamilton showed up to Instagram was to voice out in support of Nicholas Latifi after the Williams driver faced backlash for allegedly causing the Briton to lose his championship fight to Max Verstappen.

Overall, this particular stat is a much-needed piece of news for F1 on the whole. The bizarre rise in followers for Hamilton is a sign that more people are beginning to recognize the sport. And the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix stands tall as the biggest reason behind this brief yet evident global recognition.

Read More: Why Do Mercedes Dominate F1?