nss talks - A private chat w/ Lewis Hamilton

The ridiculous numbers - Five-time Formula One World Champion, 73 Grand Prix wins in 230 races - are numbers that only deliver a glimpse of who the biggest name in contemporary Formula 1 is.

To understand who Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton truly is, we must look at his charisma, on and off the track. His aggressive style along with his attitude that was often not welcomed into the aristocratic, glamorous, white world that Formula 1 had become. After Ayrton Senna, the Circus almost forgot what it was like to deal with someone that wasn't just a driver until Lewis arrived.

Lewis' uniqueness lies in how he has reached the remarkable achievement of at the same time being Formula 1 World Champion, the designer of a Tommy Hilfiger collection and a source of inspirations for millions of fans, which is not an easy job. He does it whilst being the same kid who grew up in the depth of England making sacrifices for the Sunday races that ultimately drove him to where he is now.

His cultural background is always there, you can see it when Lewis cuts a corner in Montecarlo or when he shows off his ice and corns in public. Not everyone was exactly appreciative of his attitude at the beginning of his career and Lewis loved to play the bad guy role, with tattoos, hanging out with models around the world, and being at every fashion week show. Now, Lewis is 34 and has decided to go all-in on his passion and work.

We met Lewis in a sunny Berlin for the launch party of the TommyxLewis summer collection and we discussed Formula 1, hip-hop and his fashion inspirations.