Drive in Style with These F1 Racers’ Favorite Sunglasses
From courses such as Monaco to Silverstone, Las Vegas to Bahrain, drivers are seen out of their cars, lapping up the atmosphere and building up to the big race. On the sunnier courses, sunglasses are easily the favorite accessory of many F1 racers. A few racers even have commercial deals with major companies, while some teams have had sunglass company sponsors for years. See how Scuderia Ferrari has collaborated with Ray-Ban since 2016 and released two new pairs of limited-edition sunglasses in the summer of 2022. These were naturally inspired by the world of Formula 1 and donned by leading racers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz in the promotional materials.
If you’re hoping to mimic the fashion sense of these F1 racers, then going for their favorite frames is a good place to start. In this article, we take a look at some of the most well-known F1 racers and their most stylish sunglasses to date.
Lewis Hamilton and Police
In 2019, British racing legend Lewis Hamilton scored himself a deal with Italian eyewear brand Police. In his original collection, Hamilton helped create 10 different looks made up of seven different sunglasses and three prescription glasses. He claims to have been deeply involved in the process, "From developing the collection and understanding the intricacies of eyewear design to picking the materials and customization of the final product, it's been such a rewarding experience.”
The F1 racer is not particularly choosy, however, about which Police shades he dons. At the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 2021, he chose to wear a pair of Police x Lewis Hamilton 31 SPLE13 sunglasses alongside his all-Gucci attire. In the following year, he was spotted wearing special edition sunglasses by Police at the 2022 French GP. He isn’t very loud about his own collection. However, he certainly favors sunglasses from Police above all other brands, and you can easily emulate his lavish style by choosing any pair from the Italian brand to wear on top of a designer outfit.
Lance Stroll and Oakley
Aston Martin Cognizant F1 signed an iconic partnership deal with Oakley in 2021. Lance Stroll from the team's talented driver roster has since been found sporting many classic Oakley sunglasses such as the Pitchman R or the Kato. Never one to shy away from color, Stroll cheerfully greeted fans alongside DJ Khaled while donning vivid violet lenses at the Miami Grand Prix in May 2023. Here, the brand name Oakley was clearly engraved on both sides of the frames for everyone to see.
Jefferson Slack, managing commercial and marketing director at Aston Martin, explains that Oakley is "a brand with an incredible sporting heritage; one that’s also synonymous with cutting-edge performance and technical innovation – so it’s absolutely a perfect fit for the team." Anyone who’s into an athletic lifestyle can definitely find a pair of sunglasses at Oakley that suits their personal style and size.
Pierre Gasly and Hawkers
French superstar Pierre Gasly is among the most well-known names in F1. He was sought out for sponsorship by Spanish eyewear brand Hawkers in 2019 and, after two years, would launch his first sunglasses collection with the company in 2021. Gasly commented that he has always been a follower of Hawkers and, with his love of fashion, considers sunglasses to be the perfect complement. “My style changes depending on the mood I'm in that day, and I wanted to bring out four models of different styles to reflect the emotions that run through me at every moment," he says.
In 2023, his loyalty to the brand continues in the form of his third collection of sunglasses released by Hawkers in February. This is made up of four limited edition models and will be on sale on the brand’s official website. Fans can grab a pair before coming to watch Gasly in his future F1 career under Alpine.
Whether you follow the style of Fernando Alonso, Daniel Ricciardo, or any of the aforementioned F1 racers, you can definitely find the pair of shades that will allow you to express your admiration for the sport. Don’t be afraid to try out different designs, and you will be driving in style like your favorite F1 racer.
For factory travel tours, racetrack adventures, museum tours, stops at the most sumptuous restaurants, and a breathlessly complete, luxurious experience of the Italian, German and European countryside — all through the lens of fellow car enthusiasts — Motorsport Labs is your go-to guide to take in not only this work of art but also works of art made by Ferrari, Pagani, Lamborghini, Ducati, Maserati, Porsche, BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Bentley, Aston Martin, Lotus, Red Bull, McLaren and more.
