The idea of Lewis Hamilton dating Kim Kardashian initially landed online with the surreal energy of a tabloid Mad Lib. A seven-time Formula One champion whose aesthetic references oscillate between Savile Row tailoring and Tokyo streetwear crossing into Calabasas orbit was perceived as an algorithm glitch. Yet once the whispers hardened into confirmations, longtime pop culture archivists quickly remembered something even stranger.

Hamilton’s connection to the Kardashian-Jenner universe did not begin with Kim Kardashian at all. Because long before courtside sightings and luxury dinner rumors, there was Kendall Jenner.

Back in 2015, Kendall Jenner and Lewis Hamilton became one of those pairs permanently trapped in the technically-never-confirmed-but-culturally-accepted category. They were photographed together during the Monaco Grand Prix, circulated through London nightlife circles, and repeatedly appeared in the same orbit during New York outings. At the time, Formula One was still pre-Drive to Survive niche in the United States, which somehow made the pairing feel even more fashion insider coded. 

“There have always been rumors that Kendall and Lewis hooked up years ago. She swears that never happened, but there’s no denying they have a long history,” a source has said according to National Enquirer, adding that the two had remained “party pals for years.” They also alleged Jenner felt protective of Kim Kardashian entering the situation because she “knows a lot of the dirt on him” and wanted her sister to steer clear of any mishaps. Whether exaggerated or not, the story has reignited fascination precisely because it taps into a very Kardashian reality.

Is Kim Kardashian Pregnant? Inside the Baby Bump Rumors Amid Lewis Hamilton Dating Buzz

Ironically, while gossip cycles focused on Hamilton’s Kardashian connection this week, Kendall Jenner appeared to be operating inside an entirely different romantic narrative. Rumors linking her once again to Jacob Elordi accelerated ahead of the Met Gala 2026, with fans convinced the two would make an official red carpet appearance together. 

If there was any lingering awkwardness surrounding Lewis Hamilton and Kim Kardashian, Kendall Jenner effectively drowned it beneath a couture spectacle. Her 2026 Met Gala appearance became one of the most discussed looks of the night, largely because it balanced museum-grade reference with the calculated provocation modern red carpet culture now demands.

Wearing a custom design by Gap Inc. creative director Zac Posen, Jenner arrived in a cream-toned gown inspired by the Winged Victory of Samothrace, complete with liquid drapery textures that mimicked marble sculpture in the rain.

Fashion critics immediately clocked the reference point. The look leaned less toward “naked dress fatigue” and more toward Galliano-era theatrical illusion, recalling the period when couture still attempted to imitate art history rather than simply trend on TikTok for 12 hours. In many ways, it was classic. Minimal expression, maximum silhouette control, and enough visual discipline to let the garment become the headline.

Notably, Hamilton did not attend the Met Gala alongside Kim Kardashian either, despite weeks of speculation surrounding the pair. In the end, the night belonged to image construction, something the Kardashian-Jenner machine has always understood better than anyone else in celebrity culture.

Lewis Hamilton Opens Up on ‘F1’ Oscar Nominations, Recalls Educating Cast, Talks Brad Pitt and More

What do you think about Kendall Jenner and Lewis Hamilton’s long-rumored history and Kim Kardashian entering the picture years later? Share your thoughts in the comments.