Hamilton spotted with Kim Kardashian in Japan ahead of Grand Prix return

Lewis Hamilton was spotted in Japan with media personality Kim Kardashian ahead of this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix, following his first podium for Ferrari in China and an Oscar win for the 'F1' film he helped produce. The 2026 F1 season resumes at Suzuka after the early-season races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were cancelled, creating an extended break until May.

Why it matters:

Hamilton's personal life often draws significant media attention, which can intersect with his professional focus during a race weekend. More critically for the sport, the cancellation of two opening races has created an unconventional and fragmented start to the 2026 season, putting added emphasis on the Japanese GP as the true competitive kick-off.

The details:

• Hamilton and Kardashian were seen together in Japan, fueling longstanding rumors about their relationship. This comes during a positive period for the seven-time champion off-track.
• Professional Highs: Last week, Hamilton secured his first podium finish since joining Ferrari at the Chinese Grand Prix. Separately, the 'F1' film, on which he served as a co-producer, won an Academy Award.
• Season Schedule Shift: The 2026 championship will effectively begin at the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka. The previously scheduled season-opening races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were cancelled.
• Extended Gap: After the Japanese GP, the series will not race again until the Miami Grand Prix in May, creating an unusually long early-season break.

What's next:

All focus now shifts to on-track performance at the Suzuka Circuit. The Japanese Grand Prix will serve as the de facto season opener, offering the first true glimpse of the 2026 competitive order. Teams and drivers will be eager to gather crucial data and score points after the unexpected delay to the racing calendar. The extended break until Miami will then force teams to manage a long development and analysis period based on a single race weekend's data.