Kendall Jenner and Lewis Hamilton: Did They Date?

Before “Kimilton,” there was a rumor that will not die: did Lewis Hamilton date Kendall Jenner first? Now that Hamilton is publicly dating Kim Kardashian, the decade-old whispers about him and Kim’s younger sister are back — louder than ever.

Here is what really happened in 2015, what Hamilton himself said, and why the internet cannot let it go.

The Quick Answer

Lewis Hamilton and Kendall Jenner never confirmed a relationship — and Hamilton explicitly denied it. In 2015, the F1 champion and the supermodel were spotted together repeatedly (Cannes, the Monaco Grand Prix, his yacht), and Jenner was even photographed wearing his gold chain. But when E! News asked him directly in

2016, Hamilton said: “Me and Kendall have been friends for a while, so we’re just friends.” The rumors resurfaced in 2026 only because Hamilton is now dating Kendall’s sister, Kim Kardashian.

High-fashion runway show with dramatic spotlights

Who Is Kendall Jenner?

Kendall Jenner (born November 3, 1995) is the second-youngest of the Kardashian-Jenner clan and one of the world’s highest-paid models — walking for Chanel, Versace, and Victoria’s Secret, and fronting campaigns for Estee Lauder and Calvin Klein. She founded the 818 Tequila brand and starred on Keeping Up with the Kardashians and The Kardashians. Her dating history includes Harry Styles, Ben Simmons, Devin Booker, and Bad Bunny.

Who Is Lewis Hamilton? (The Short Version)

Sir Lewis Hamilton (born January 7, 1985) is the seven-time Formula 1 world champion, now driving for Ferrari. For his full story — and his current relationship with Kim Kardashian — see our Kim Kardashian and Lewis Hamilton: Relationship Timeline and Latest Updates.

Formula 1 race at the Monaco street circuit

What Happened in 2015

The rumor mill ignited during the summer of 2015:

Cannes Film Festival: Hamilton (30) and Jenner (19) were seen together, with Us Weekly sources claiming he told friends he wanted to take her on a “proper date,” calling her “really cute and smart.”
Monaco Grand Prix: Jenner attended the race and was photographed wearing one of Hamilton’s signature gold chains — the photo that launched a thousand headlines.
The yacht: Sources described them on Hamilton’s yacht, “very flirty,” with Hamilton spraying water at Jenner from a jet ski while “they were both laughing and having a great time.”
London: Spotted together at nightlife events and a Drake concert.

It looked, to the outside world, exactly like a budding romance.

The Denial

Hamilton shut it down himself. Speaking to E! News in 2016, he said: “Me and Kendall have been friends for a while, so we’re just friends.” He praised her warmly — “She’s doing incredible, she’s very focused, very level-headed… for such a young woman, she’s very grown up” — but the message was unambiguous: platonic.

Neither Jenner nor anyone in her camp ever claimed otherwise. No photos of kissing, no “couple” appearances, no confirmation from either side — ever. By celebrity-rumor standards, this one had smoke but no fire.

Why the Rumors Are Back in 2026

Two reasons. First, Hamilton’s relationship with Kim Kardashian — Kendall’s older sister — has fans doing the math: “Wait, didn’t he used to date Kendall?” Social media comments range from amused to scandalized: “Can’t get over her dating her sister’s ex.”

Second, the Kardashian-Jenner universe runs on interconnected storylines. A man linked to one sister now dating another is catnip for the internet — even when the first “link” was never confirmed. Outlets like The Tab and The Jasmine Brand have both revisited the 2015 saga in recent months — and both reached the same conclusion: friends, not lovers.

Timeline

Year	Event
2014	Hamilton befriends the Kardashian-Jenner circle
Summer 2015	Spotted with Kendall at Cannes, Monaco GP (the gold chain photo), his yacht
Late 2015	More joint appearances; dating rumors peak
2016	Hamilton tells E! News: “we’re just friends”
2016–2025	Rumors fade; both date other people
Feb 2026	Hamilton begins dating Kim Kardashian
2026	2015 Kendall rumors resurface online; still unconfirmed

FAQs

Did Lewis Hamilton date Kendall Jenner?

There is no confirmation they ever dated. They were spotted together several times in 2015, but Hamilton publicly denied a romance in 2016, saying they were “just friends.”

Is Lewis Hamilton dating Kim Kardashian?

Yes — they went public in 2026. See our full timeline of their relationship.

What did Hamilton say about Kendall?

“Me and Kendall have been friends for a while, so we’re just friends… She’s doing incredible, she’s very focused, very level-headed.”

Are Kendall Jenner and Lewis Hamilton still friends?

They appear to remain on good terms — no public falling-out has ever been reported, and the families’ circles still overlap.

Final Word

The Kendall-Hamilton “romance” is a case study in how celebrity rumors work: a gold chain, a yacht, a summer of sightings — and a decade later, still zero confirmation. The real story was always simpler: a famous friendship, and now, a famous relationship with her sister. Hollywood loves a plot twist, even an imaginary one.

Author
Recent Posts

Milana

Milana is a highly experienced ethnicity and cultural research writer known for creating accurate, engaging, and deeply researched content about global ethnic backgrounds, family origins, nationality, heritage, and multicultural identity. With a strong academic foundation in cultural studies and human diversity, she has spent years studying how ethnicity shapes history, communities, and modern society.

She holds advanced qualifications in Sociology, Anthropology, and Ethnic Studies, fields that focus on human cultures, traditions, migration patterns, and identity development across the world. Her expertise allows her to break down complex cultural topics into easy-to-understand articles that readers genuinely enjoy.

Over the years, Milana has researched hundreds of public figures, communities, and global ethnic groups, making her a trusted voice in the ethnicity niche. Her writing combines factual research, historical understanding, and modern cultural analysis to ensure every article is informative, reliable, and reader-friendly.

Her work focuses on:

* Ethnicity and ancestry research
* Cultural identity and heritage
* Nationality and family background
* Celebrity ethnicity breakdowns
* Global traditions and multicultural studies

Milana’s goal is to provide readers with authentic, well-researched, and trustworthy information while celebrating the diversity of cultures around the world. Through her detailed research and passion for cultural education, she continues to help audiences better understand ethnicity, heritage, and identity in today’s connected world.