Why Lewis Hamilton refused to sign a fan's helmet ahead of Austrian Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton has offered insight into why he snubbed a fan asking for an autograph after the Spanish Grand Prix.

The Austrian Grand Prix gets underway on Sunday afternoon as Max Verstappen looks to seal his eighth victory of the 2024 season and get closer to his fourth successive Formula One Driver’s Championship.

Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton will start the race in fifth, behind Carlos Sainz, George Russell, Lando Norris and Verstappen.

But Hamilton has confused fans after he was seen refusing to sign a fan’s replica helmet after last week’s Spanish Grand Prix.

Lewis Hamilton refused to sign a fan's helmet after finishing third in the Spanish GP. (Image: Getty)

As he speaks to fans and happily signs hats and other pieces of merchandise, a member of staff from the GP asks the Brit to sign what looks like a replica helmet of Hamilton’s from one of his races in Sao Paulo.

But the 39-year-old swiftly refused to sign the helmet and an interview with the driver may have revealed why.

Hamilton told GQ in 2023: “The only thing I refuse to sign would be a helmet.

"I take a lot of pride in my helmets - that’s my jersey. I might have given two helmets away, to like my boss and a really dear friend who’s passed away now. Those are part of my heritage.

"One day I want to put them all in a museum with all my cars and stuff so people can see the journey from where I started."

Despite this, some fans on social media believe the Mercedes driver may have other reasons behind the decision not to sign replica helmets.

Lewis Hamilton will start in fifth for Sunday's Austrian Grand Prix. (Image: Getty)

One fan wrote: "I think part of it has to do with [money emoji], some items prices goes up if an athlete or actor sign it and that’s one of them."

Another agreed, writing: "He knew dude was going to sell it on eBay. He didn’t want him to get that money."

Whilst a third fan offered another reason based on their personal experience with Hamilton, they said: “Years ago I took my son’s Lewis helmet to Spa to get him to sign it in the Thursday signing session, he declined.

"The people with him said he has a contract with his helmet manufacturer to only sign their helmets, which are sold and distributed by them as official products."

Hamilton is currently eighth in the 2024 Driver’s Championships and will race for Ferrari next season after 11 years with current team Mercedes, where he won six of his seven championships.