Lewis Hamilton skips F1 duties to attend Paris fashion show in honour of Karl Lagerfeld
LEWIS HAMILTON skipped Formula One media duties to attend a fashion show dedicated to the late style icon Karl Lagerfeld.
The Brit, 34, was due to take part in the routine pre-race session in the afternoon but was belatedly excused by Mercedes boss Toto Wolff.
Instead, Lewis Hamilton remained in Paris and attended the Lagerfeld memorial event which was organised by Chanel, Fendi and Lagerfeld's own brand.
Hamilton was a close friend of the German fashion designer, who passed away in February aged 85.
The five-time F1 champ, who has been in the French capital for Paris Fashion Week, also attended a glitzy Louis Vuitton catwalk show while his 19 rivals were fulfilling press requirements.
And he didn’t hide the fact that he was missing media duties, posting across his various social media accounts when he was due to speak to the press.
The Mercedes star has made no secret of his love for fashion and has launched his own collection with giants Tommy Hilfiger.
Last year, he was forced to deny suggestions that his extra-curricular activities were jeopardising his championship challenge.
Hamilton explained at the time: "I get a lot of energy from doing these different things. I find it stimulating, and you can see my results have shown that in the past."
The Brit eventually went on to clinch a fifth title triumph and is currently leading Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas in the standings by 29 points.
He was expected to fly to the circuit, which has its own airfield, yesterday evening ahead of today’s opening two practice sessions.
This is the second time he has been excused from media duties following the death of Mercedes’ non-executive Chairman and F1 icon Niki Lauda ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix.
Hamilton will take to the track today for the first time since the fallout from the Canada showdown, which saw Sebastian Vettel controversially denied victory.
Lewis Hamilton discusses Sebastian Vettel's penalty
Stewards punished Vettel with a five-second penalty for running off the circuit at the third corner before rejoining the track in an "unsafe manner".
And Red Bull driver Max Verstappen has urged F1 chiefs to ditch the rules and let them race in France this weekend.
"I am not a big fan of all the rules," said the Dutchman. "I would throw the rulebook away in terms of racing.
"A bit of safe wheel banging and stuff, that's what everybody likes to see - unless you're not a racer."