For Lewis Hamilton, nothing says "late-summer heatwave in Northern Italy" quite like a heavy wool coat, a suit, and a Kangol cap.
For Thursday’s media day at Monza, the seven-time world champion decided that blistering paddock temperatures were simply no excuse to compromise on sartorial drama.
While the rest of the grid rolled up in lightweight team polos desperately seeking air conditioning, Hamilton arrived looking as though he were about to negotiate a hostile takeover of a Milanese fashion house.
Extending his subtle statement to his set of wheels, the Briton rolled in with his immaculate Ferrari F40, the legendary supercar he recently had restored after more than three decades languishing in a garage.
Complete with custom ‘44’ number plate, the F40 arguably provided the perfect accessory for a man who has turned paddock arrivals in F1 into something of an art form.
With Ferrari finally serving up a race-winning car this season, Hamilton clearly felt obliged to deliver a masterclass in PR theatricality.
Who cares if your internal body temperature hits boiling point before FP1 even starts?
When you own the car, the grand entrance, and the entire paddock’s undivided attention, a little sweat is just the price you pay for fashion supremacy.
