Formula 1 drivers are some of the most talented athletes in the world \u2013 but away from the cockpit, there\u2019s a surprising mix of hobbies and passions. From music and fashion to golf, gaming, and even cooking, the grid is full of personalities who could just as easily shine in very different careers.<\/p>\n
So, what might happen if racing suddenly disappeared? What might they do had they missed their F1 calling? We\u2019ve taken a fun look at ten drivers and the jobs they might be doing instead…<\/p>\n
Lewis Hamilton: fashion designer<\/p>\n
Lewis Hamilton\u2019s<\/a> reputation as one of the sport\u2019s all-time greats is secure. He boasts seven titles, more wins and poles than anyone else, and a career spent pushing the limits. But off-track, his fashion credentials are growing just as fast.<\/p>\n In May 2025, Hamilton co-chaired the Met Gala<\/a>, walked the red carpet in an ivory suit designed with Grace Wales Bonner, and used the event to highlight Black tailoring and identity.<\/p>\n In another life \u2013 or perhaps even post-F1 \u2013 you can easily imagine him in a design studio in Paris or Milan, sketching bold silhouettes, championing sustainable fabrics, and making powerful statements that go beyond the catwalk. Hamilton has spoken often about wanting to break barriers and inspire change both on and off the track \u2013 something he could do with a global fashion label.<\/p>\n Whether reimagining streetwear or setting the tone at Fashion Week, he\u2019d bring the same ambition and artistry that made him a record-breaking champion in F1.<\/p>\n Max Verstappen: streamer<\/p>\n Max Verstappen<\/a> is already a four-time World Champion, but he\u2019s just as competitive when he\u2019s sat in front of a simulator at home<\/a>.<\/p>\n He\u2019s taken part in high-profile events like the 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual and the Nurburgring 24 Hours on iRacing, and has even streamed some of his sessions on Twitch, where fans get to see a different side of him that is less media pen, more gamer headset.<\/p>\n Without F1, you get the feeling Verstappen would be perfectly at home as a full-time streamer. He\u2019s quick, sharp with his racecraft, and has the kind of dry humour that would keep fans hooked.<\/p>\n Charles Leclerc: concert pianist and composer<\/p>\n Charles Leclerc<\/a> only taught himself piano in 2020, but just three years later he had already composed and released original pieces on Spotify and YouTube<\/a>.<\/p>\n His tracks, including AUS23 (1:1) and MIA23 (1:2), were inspired by the atmosphere and emotions of significant Grands Prix in the 2023 season, explaining to Classic FM, \u201cThe best way I found to slow down and disconnect from the racing world was music\u201d.<\/p>\n In 2024, Lelcerc took his passion a step further, releasing his \u201cDreamers\u201d EP in collaboration with French pianist Sofiane Pamart.<\/p>\n Had he chosen music over motorsport, it\u2019s not hard to imagine him performing in Monaco concert halls or even scoring films. The same sense of timing and precision that helps him thread his SF-25 through the streets of Monaco is visible in the way he plays his own melodies.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s the one place where I can completely disconnect,\u201d he told Tatler \u2013 though in another timeline, the piano could have been his true stage.<\/p>\n Lando Norris: golfer<\/p>\n Lando Norris<\/a> has long been passionate about golf<\/a>, often sharing his experiences on social media.<\/p>\n His enthusiasm for the sport led him to participate in the 2025 BMW PGA Championship Celebrity Pro-Am in September 2025. Paired with professional golfer Matt Fitzpatrick, Norris showed off his skills alongside other sports and entertainment figures.<\/p>\n He has said in interviews that golf offers a unique focus and challenge, admitting to Car and Driver that he finds golf more challenging than F1.<\/p>\n In another universe, we could see Norris trying to convince Fitzpatrick that trick shots are a legitimate strategy while keeping the crowd entertained with his playful commentary.<\/p>\n Yuki Tsunoda: Michelin-star chef<\/p>\n Despite his ambitions in F1, Yuki Tsunoda<\/a> has never hidden his love of food<\/a>.<\/p>\n On Red Bull<\/a> and Racing Bulls<\/a>\u2019 social channels, he\u2019s often been shown cooking for his team mates, and in a Behind the Visor episode with his former team, he admitted that if he weren\u2019t racing, he\u2019d want to open his own Japanese restaurant, and that this is even an ambition for him post-F1.<\/p>\n Judging by his competitive nature, we reckon he\u2019d probably achieve Michelin-star status in no time.<\/p>\n In this alternate universe, Tsunoda is a head chef at his own restaurant, commanding a busy kitchen and perfecting food with the same intensity he applies to the track, while probably using some Gordon Ramsay-esque phrases if something wasn\u2019t up to standard!<\/p>\n Carlos Sainz: professional athlete (in almost anything!)<\/p>\n Carlos Sainz\u2019s<\/a> athletic versatility is well documented. His Instagram regularly features clips of him on the golf course, tennis court, ski slope, or on his bike, and in an interview with Marca, he said: \u201cI feel like I have to win in whatever I do. It doesn\u2019t matter if it\u2019s football, tennis, or skiing.\u201d<\/p>\n With his background \u2013 his father Carlos Sainz Sr is a two-time World Rally Champion \u2013 Sainz was never going to be casual about sport. This was highlighted in his win at the Netflix Cup in 2023 with golfing partner Justin Thomas<\/a>.<\/p>\n Without F1, Sainz could have been a professional in almost any discipline. Skiing the World Cup circuit? Winning trophies for Padel? Challenging at the front of the Tour de France? All plausible.<\/p>\n George Russell: politician<\/p>\n George Russell<\/a> is one of the most articulate and thoughtful communicators on the grid, and as a one of the Grand Prix Drivers Association (GPDA) directors, he\u2019s already shown he can represent his peers on safety and sporting matters with calmness, clarity, and a sense of fairness.<\/p>\n Those qualities would make him a natural in politics, using those same skills to deliver speeches, lead discussions, or tackle big-picture issues.<\/p>\n It\u2019s the kind of role where staying composed under pressure, weighing options, and connecting with people really matters \u2013 all things he does naturally in F1.<\/p>\n Isack Hadjar: social media sensation<\/p>\n Alongside his impressive results in his first F1 season, including a brilliant podium at the Dutch Grand Prix<\/a>, Isack Hadjar<\/a> has built a playful social media presence along with his Racing Bulls team.<\/p>\n The French driver has even been praised by The Fast and the Curious as the \u201cTikTok star of Formula 1\u201d.<\/p>\n Perhaps without F1, Hadjar could be a full-time vlogger and social media star, posting funny skits and pranks, turning his everyday moments into mini adventures and laughs for his followers.<\/p>\n Lance Stroll: tennis player<\/p>\n Lance Stroll<\/a> has always been a multi-sport athlete, and tennis is one of the games he\u2019s happiest picking up away from the paddock.<\/p>\n In 2020 he even hit the court against former World No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt, which isn\u2019t something you\u2019d attempt if you didn\u2019t know your way around a racket. Stroll has downplayed his level in interviews, insisting he\u2019s \u201cnot that good\u201d \u2013 but judging by that challenge, we think the Canadian is being modest.<\/p>\n With his fitness, sharp reactions, and natural composure under pressure, it\u2019s easy to imagine Stroll taking the tennis tour seriously. In another life, he might have been chasing match points instead of podiums, swapping fireproofs and chicanes for tennis whites and a baseline rally.<\/p>\n Alex Albon: animal shelter owner<\/p>\n Alex Albon’s<\/a> household has always included a full cast of animal characters.<\/p>\n