Hamilton declines Lego car stunt at Silverstone
Lewis Hamilton has announced he will boycott a Formula One promotional event involving Lego cars at the British Grand Prix, describing the stunt as the most dangerous part of the race weekend. The seven-time world champion, now driving for Ferrari, made the remarks on Thursday ahead of his home race at Silverstone.
All 22 drivers are scheduled to participate in the parade, which takes place 90 minutes before Sunday's race. Each driver will sit in a replica car constructed from 28,000 Lego bricks, capable of reaching a maximum speed of 25 kilometers per hour.
“I’m not going to do it,” Hamilton said with a laugh. “It’s the most dangerous part of the weekend!”
Hamilton’s past experience with Lego cars
Hamilton had previously avoided driving in a similar Lego event in Miami. He recalled watching his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc take the wheel instead. “I let Charles drive last time and it was just hilarious watching everyone crashing into each other,” Hamilton said. “So yeah, I don’t know whether or not I’ll be in the Lego car this year.”
When asked if safety was his only concern, Hamilton declined to elaborate. “There’s not really much to say,” he said. “It’s something I need to take offline.” Reports suggest that Hamilton is also disgruntled because drivers do not receive a fee for participating in the stunt.
Mixed reactions among drivers
Hamilton is not alone in his lack of enthusiasm for the event, which is one of several stunts organized by Formula One (owned by American Liberty Media) and the Danish toy manufacturer Lego. Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll expressed indifference. “I’m not gonna lose sleep over it or wake up early excited about it. It’s just another drivers’ parade,” Stroll said.
In contrast, McLaren’s Lando Norris, the reigning world champion, welcomed the novelty. “I’m pretty excited about it actually. It’s different,” Norris said.
