Lewis Hamilton's 12-year plan to woo Kim Kardashian: How the F1 driver cemented himself into the family fold by befriending Kanye West and the Jenners before embarking on 'secret romance' with the SKIMS founder

Lewis Hamilton raised eyebrows over the weekend when it was claimed he'd embarked on a secret romance with Kim Kardashian. 

The Formula 1 ace, 41, is said to have enjoyed a weekend away in the Cotswolds with the American reality star, 45, where they enjoyed a couple's massage and dinner in a private room. 

Yet while the reports may have come as a shock to many, Lewis has spent more than a decade integrating himself into the Kardashian clan. 

He first met Kim back in 2014 at the GQ Men Of The Year Awards, but at the time, Kim was married to Kanye West and Lewis dating Nicole Scherzinger. 

In the years that have followed, Lewis has remained closely entwined with the Kardashians, striking up a friendship with Kanye as well as Kris and Kendall Jenner; and now their relationship is said to have taken the leap from platonic to romantic.

When describing his perfect woman back in 2015, Lewis described all of Kim's qualities, saying that while he was happy to remain single at present, he knew what he wanted his future partner to be like.  

'Someone who's fun, someone who's as outgoing as I am,' he told Life. 'She's got to be willing to be spontaneous, and someone brought up with good values.'

Lewis added that by 'good values' he meant someone 'good with kids, have to be humble, caring, loving, someone who's more beautiful on the inside than out.'

'I want to have a family and kids though I don't know when that's going to be,' he added, noting that at the time he was just focused on 'being the best' in the world of F1. 

That same year, Lewis witnessed Kim's strong family values when he spent Easter with Kim, Kanye and their children. 

Kanye previously recalled the holiday, saying: 'Lewis Hamilton's over at my house and we're playing some music in my studio.

'We're having an Easter brunch and all of the family's there, my wife's family, my friends, everything. And everybody's like, "What is this music?" And I'm like, "It's Lewis Hamilton's music".

'They're like, "Oh my God. It's really good."' 

Lewis later joined Kim and her family in the VIP section when Kanye headlined Glastonbury that year.

A year after the show, Lewis opened up about his connection with Kanye as he told City AM: 'I went to see Kanye at his house and he goes, "You know, me and you are very much the same".

'He said, "I’m big in the music world but I’m trying to do what I love in fashion and people don’t like it.

'You’re big in your racing world but you love your music and people will probably struggle to accept that. You need to do what you love and not give a f*** about what anyone thinks".'

Lewis added: 'Ultimately we shouldn’t feel like we need to shrink ourselves for other people to feel comfortable. Kanye’s outspoken, to say the least. I love that. He’s electrifying in everything he does.

'I wish I could be that outspoken, I really do. But I’m signed to brands that have an idealistic image they wish to be connected with, so I need to be careful.'

Kanye and Kim went on to announce their split in 2021 and divorced the following year. Since then, Kim has dated Pete Davidson and Odell Beckham Jr. 

Meanwhile, Lewis has been linked to a string of glamorous women since his long-term romance with Pussycat Doll Nicole ended in 2015 after eight years together. 

Rita Ora, Winnie Harlow, Nicki Minaj and Sofia Richie have all been linked to the star over the years. 

In another link to the Kardashians, Lewis was said to be dating Kanye's model ex-girlfriend Juliana Nalu in 2023, but the romance quickly fizzled out. 

Most bizarrely he was romantically linked to Kim's sister Kendall in 2015 when she was photographed wearing his gold chain at the Monaco Grand Prix in Monte Carlo.

However, Lewis was quick to shut down rumours, telling E! News: 'Me and Kendall have been friends for a while, so we’re just friends.' 

Praising the supermodel, he added: 'She’s doing incredible, she’s very focused, very level-headed, and she’s just - for such a young woman, she’s very grown up.' 

The sentiment is clearly mutual, with Kendall and her mother Kris Jenner pictured hanging out with Lewis at various events over the years. 

Back in 2015 it was even claimed that Kris wanted Lewis for a son-in-law, with a source telling The Sun that she wanted Kendall to date the F1 ace. 

'She really wants Kendall to date him,' an insider said at the time. 'Lewis and Kris have become friendly in recent months and she thinks he's perfect for her daughter. She really enjoyed being in Monaco with Lewis, who personally invited her.'

Now it seems that Kris has got half of her wish after reports emerged that Lewis has embarked on a secret romance with Kim. 

Kim jetted into the UK on her £100million private jet to spend just 24 hours with her new beau at the exclusive Estelle Manor this month, with three bodyguards protecting the couple.

A source told The Sun: 'It all appeared to be very romantic. Kim and Lewis made use of all the facilities on offer.

'She had two bodyguards with her and Lewis had a close protection officer but they remained in the background.

Kim, who was pictured in London on Sunday night, touched down on Saturday afternoon at Oxford Airport, where two cars were waiting to make the nine-minute journey to Estelle Manor.

Lewis was then spotted arriving at the romantic spot an hour later after flying in from London via helicopter.

Insiders said the pair shared a room in the main part of the house, which costs from £1,000 a night whilst they also enjoyed a couple's massage and dinner in a private room with onlookers saying: 'It all appeared to be very romantic.'

For both the room and access to the spa the date could have easily cost £120,000 in total.

The pair checked out at around 11am on Sunday and left together in the two cars which had taken Kim from the airport.

While Lewis left via the front door, Kim was taken out through a side exit. Yet she was spotted by her give away eight suitcases which had her name embossed on the side.

The pair also spent New Year's Eve together in Aspen, Colorado, as they kept their blossoming romance under wraps. 

The reported new couple were pictured at the same party after both being invited to Kate Hudson's star-studded bash in the celebrity ski resort.