Mercedes F1 star Lewis Hamilton was spotted in a new avatar ahead of Sunday’s US Grand Prix in Texas. The Silver Arrows ace has turned into a pilot for the day ahead of his next American race in the United States. However, it was not the usual F1 pilot he becomes week-in, week-out. It was of an airplane, much like in the movie ‘Top Gun: Maverick’.

In a collaboration with IWC and their Big Pilot tour, their brand ambassador Hamilton stepped into a plane that was standing on the airfield in San Diego, California. Apart from Hamilton, there was the IWC CEO, Christoph Grainger-Herr, and others like Kurt Klaus, and IWC’s legendary former head watchmaker and professional skier Eileen Gu, taking part in the event.

International Watch Co. AG or IWC Schaffhausen, is a Swiss international luxury watchmaker founded in 1868. One of the best watchmaking companies in the world, they have been a part of the Swiss Richemont Group since 2000. They have dedicated this Big Pilot event to showcase their brand’s new Top Gun watch collection.

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In a Twitter post from the official account of IWC watches that comes with the caption, “1 day to be amazed. #IWCRacing @LewisHamilton @MercedesAMGF1 #IWCPilot.” Hamilton was seen making hand gestures to the fans, looking at the airplane as well as taking the position of a pilot on the customized IWC flyer.

Lewis Hamilton once said no to the Top Gun movie

Lewis Hamilton, who donned the Top Gun avatar, denied the chance to make a cameo in the Top Gun movie. Citing F1 commitments, the Mercedes star said that he doesn’t have enough time for the movie since he had enough at stake in the 2020 and 2021 F1 seasons.

Talking about this, in a report published by Sky Sports F1, Hamilton conveyed, “Basically I’m a friend of Tom [Cruise], 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 [Top Gun: Maverick] 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’,” stated the Silver Arrows’ ace.

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However, when responding to what made him say no to the chance, the 37-year-old driver shared, “I’m a perfectionist. There just wasn’t time,” and added, “the most upsetting call that I think I’ve ever had.” Even though the fans couldn’t see him in the Top Gun movie, they surely had a glimpse of what the Mercedes star would’ve looked like in the movie via his new collaboration.