Will Davidson

Lewis Hamilton is at home in Monaco, taking in a glorious sunset from his luxury apartment—while having physiotherapy. It seems that being a three-time world Formula One world champion can be a real pain in the…back.

"Racing is very physical," he explains. After all, something has to control a race car hurtling around the track at over 200 miles an hour. "Back, glutes, hips, all of those," he adds with a little wince.

Aches aside, Hamilton has a spring in his step. He recently won his third Formula One world title, and is planning an overdue end-of-year vacation—right after he drives the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. He is also enjoying the spoils of being both successful and curious. Firstly, he's recording music ("for, like, six years now, R&B, hip- hop—my family is from the Caribbean, so I grew up with a lot of reggae, soul music"), enthusiastically describing how he sang Earth, Wind & Fire's "September" at his mother's recent birthday party. Hamilton loves music: banging Drake in his Mercedes SUV (which, due to his relentless travel, he rarely drives). "Have you seen Rush Hour?" He cackles. "'Don't touch a black man's radio!'"

Hamilton is equally into fashion, sitting front row at shows from Derek Lam to Valentino and palling around with Givenchy's Riccardo Tisci and Balmain's Olivier Rousteing. "I love meeting the designers," he says. "I'm like, 'Hey, what were you thinking when you designed this?' I would love to one day have my own line of clothes," adding, "I like wearing things that other people wouldn't want to wear, to be a bit edgy." When Hamilton and I first met, a few months ago at the BAZAAR offices, he was wearing a camouflage jacket by his friend Virgil Abloh's Off- White label, paired with a wide-brimmed red felt hat. He looked rather fantastic.

Will Davidson

Ralph Lauren Collection jumpsuit, Polaroid sandals, Manolo Blahnik for Carolina Herrera sandals. On Hamilton: A.P.C. turtleneck, Ray-Ban sunglasses.

However, it says a lot about Hamilton, 31, that, given his titles, his income (his new contract with the Mercedes AMG Petronas team is rumored to be worth around $150 million), and his toys, he's not an immense, well, nob. Raised in Stevenage, a working- class town north of London, he is dedicated to his family (his father, Anthony, bought him his first go-kart for Christmas when he was six), and has a sincere appreciation for where his particular road has taken him.

Although he won his third world title last October at the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Hamilton is as hungry as ever. "I'm just super competitive," he says. "Squash, tennis, water skiing, computer games...Even if I played you at pool, I'd have to win." That said, when he's driving—on regular roads—he doesn't speed. "I just came back from a race where I have been driving at 200 miles per hour, so this is a period of my life where I like it to be chill, you know?"

What does that level of speed feel like, anyway? "It really is a trip," he says, "because everything is coming at you so fast. You're looking really far ahead. It feels like you're going at light speed. You know when you watch Star Wars and you see the speed of the spaceship? But you're able to slow it down in your mind—where you want to turn, where you want to brake. That's the mind of a racing driver."

Talk turns to infinity and beyond. "I'd love to go to space," Hamilton enthuses. "I just watched The Martian. I really want to go to Mars." But it's not a return trip. "Well, no, but…" He pauses. "I was thinking I could take a hot chick with me and we could just start a family up there."

Will Davidson

Alexander Wang romper, Gianvito Rossi sandals, Jennifer Fisher ring, similar styles available at shopBAZAAR.com. On Hamilton: Alexander Wang jacket, A.P.C. sweater, Saint Laurent by Hedi Slimane jeans and boots.

Hamilton describes dating as "kind of nonexistent at the moment. It's been the first year that I've really been single for a long time. All I've done is just thrown myself into work. I work too much; I need to slow down a bit and try to enjoy a little bit more, take some more time for me." He exhales. "I will do it at some stage."

Another thing Hamilton is deeply passionate about is rescue animals, like the big cats housed in his friend Eduardo Serio's Black Jaguar White Tiger sanctuary in Mexico City. Serio came to visit Hamilton's BAZAAR shoot in Mexico City with a baby tiger, Nicole. "Some of these animals were in circuses," explains Hamilton. "Now the circuses [in Mexico] are not allowed to use animals, but they can't go back to the wild. They get put down." Serio, a huge motor-racing fan, recently took in a lion cub, which he named Lewis. "I just I can't believe it!" Hamilton says. "They're my favorite animal. Have you seen the lion tattoo on my chest? It's on my Instagram."

Right now, though, the king is far from the jungle. As the sun goes down over Monaco, he muses, "You know, this is my favorite place to race. It's stunning. Also, it's home. My going to work is driving a Formula One car down the street." He chuckles. "It's ridiculous."

Will Davidson

Alexander Wang jacket, Land's End turtleneck, Boss pants, Manolo Blahnik shoes. On Hamilton: Dolce & Gabbana sweater, Saint Laurent by Hedi Slimane jeans and boots, IWC watch.

See a behind-the-scenes look at Lewis Hamilton's BAZAAR shoot below:

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This article originally appeared in the February 2016 issue of Harper's BAZAAR.

Lead photo: Boss dress, Robert Lee Morris earrings, Jennifer Zeuner Jewelry bracelet, Manolo Blahnik for Carolina Herrera sandals. On Hamilton: Boss jacket, Dolce & Gabbana shirt, A.P.C. jeans, Polaroid sunglasses, IWC watch, Saint Laurent by Hedi Slimane boots.

Model: Karmen Pedaru; Hair: Holly Mills; Makeup: Ozzy Salvatierra for Valerie Beverly Hills; Manicure: Araceli Meza; Grooming: Kyle Krieger for Baxter of California and Yuko Fredriksson; Production: Susan Neill for Tonic Films.

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