Lewis Hamilton says 'turning down role from Tom Cruise's Top Gun was upsetting'

KARACHI: F1 star Lewis Hamilton said declining a role as a fighter pilot in the Tom Cruise movie Top Gun: Maverick was "the most upsetting call that I think I've ever had"

The seven-time Formula 1 world champion from Britain confirmed that he had agreed to take a role in the successful follow-up to the 1986 blockbuster.

He had to cancel, though, because the movie was being shot during the Formula 1 season.

Following Cruise's invitation to the Edge of Tomorrow set in 2014, Hamilton claims he "developed a friendship" with the Hollywood actor.

Hamilton was inspired by Top Gun to pursue his childhood dream of becoming a fighter pilot, and he could not help but ask Cruise if he might appear in the much-anticipated sequel.

"When I heard the second one was coming out, I was like, 'Oh my God, I have to ask him,'" Hamilton told Vanity Fair, calling Cruise "one of the nicest people you'll ever meet".

"I said, 'I don't care what role it is. I'll even sweep something, be a cleaner in the back'."

Hamilton, who is now sixth in the driver rankings for 2022, has won podium finishes in his last five races and has hinted that he would continue to work with Mercedes after his current contract expires in 2023.

"I'll be lying if I said that I hadn't thought about extending," he said.

"I'm still on the mission, I'm still loving driving, I'm still being challenged by it. So I don't really feel like I have to give it up any time soon."

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