IWC Schaffhausen will host an event at Qatar Duty Free at Hamad International Airport (HIA). Guests will experience the world premiere of a short movie showing IWC brand ambassador Lewis Hamilton as he received astronaut flight training with the Polaris Program of commercial human spaceflight missions. The seven-time Formula One world champion, who will compete at the Qatar Grand Prix this weekend, will be present for the premiere. After the screening, he will talk about his fascination for space and space exploration.
The compelling short movie starring the seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton was shot and produced by IWC Schaffhausen. The world premiere will take place at Qatar Duty Free at Hamad International Airport.
Lewis Hamilton received astronaut flight training
In the movie, Lewis Hamilton embarks on an astronaut flight training with John “Slick” Baum, Philanthropy Director and instructor pilot of the Polaris Program. The same training was used to prepare the crews of the Inspiration 4 and Polaris Dawn commercial human spaceflight missions. During the training, Lewis Hamilton and his instructor performed a complete series of manoeuvres in an L-39 Albatros jet. For example, they practiced accelerations and decelerations to experience lateral g-forces. The training also included a zero-g demonstration, during which the IWC brand ambassador briefly experienced the feeling of complete weightlessness in the cockpit. In flight, the Formula One™ driver pulled a maximum of 7.5 g, which is more than astronauts typically experience on ascent. The training was also witnessed by students from Dibia Dream social STEM education programs. Their presence reinforced the message that you can become anything you want in life – a racing driver, a pilot or even an astronaut.
Lewis Hamilton remembers his biggest adventures with IWC
After the screening of the movie, Lewis Hamilton will talk about his deep fascination for space and human space exploration. He will also share details about his astronaut flight training with the Polaris Program and explain what made the experience unforgettable for him. In addition, he is expected to look back on some of the many other adventures he has enjoyed during his more than 10 years as an IWC brand ambassador – from competing in entertaining golf and basketball challenges in Miami to pulling laps on the racetrack accompanied by a thousand drones at night in Las Vegas.
On the day of the movie shooting, Lewis Hamilton also wore a special IWC-designed race suit, which was inspired by real space suits and features a “space mission” patch with his starting number 44. The suit, which was also exhibited at the event, will be worn during this weekend’s race at the Lusail International Circuit in Qatar.
In the movie, the IWC brand ambassador wore the Pilot’s Watch Performance Chronograph 41 Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team (Ref. IW388306). Dedicated to IWC’s long-standing motorsport partner, this sleek chronograph features a Ceratanium case and a ceramic bezel with a tachymeter scale.
