QATAR. Luxury watch house IWC Schaffhausen and Qatar Duty Free will host the global premiere of a short film featuring seven-time Formula One world champion and IWC Brand Ambassador Lewis Hamilton at Hamad International Airport.
The premiere coincides with Hamilton’s presence in Qatar for the Grand Prix at Lusail International Circuit this weekend (1 December).
The short film, produced by IWC Schaffhausen and due to be released on 15 June 2025, chronicles Hamilton’s journey as he tackles astronaut flight training led by John ‘Slick’ Baum, Philanthropy Director and instructor pilot from the Polaris Program. The training mimics that undertaken by crew for commercial human spaceflight missions such as Inspiration 4 and Polaris Dawn.
In the film, Hamilton performs a series of high-intensity manoeuvres aboard an L-39 Albatros jet. These include accelerations and decelerations to simulate lateral g-forces (gravitational force equivalent) and a zero-gravity demonstration that briefly allowed him to experience weightlessness.
Notably, Hamilton achieved a maximum of 7.5 g during the training, exceeding the typical g-force that astronauts face during rocket ascent.
The training was witnessed by students from Dibia DREAM, a social STEM education programme. Dibia DREAM’s presence underscores the film’s inspirational message that ‘you can become anything you want in life – a racing driver, a pilot or even an astronaut’.
After the screening, Hamilton will share insights into his passion for space travel and discuss the highlights of his astronaut flight training with the Polaris Program. He will also reflect on the experiences of his decade-long partnership with IWC Schaffhausen, ranging from golf and basketball challenges in Miami to a spectacular nighttime race track event illuminated by a thousand drones in Las Vegas.
Hamilton wore a custom-designed IWC race suit in the film. The suit was inspired by space exploration and features his starting number 44. It will be on display during the screening event and worn by Hamilton during the Qatar Grand Prix.
In the film, Hamilton can be seen sporting the Pilot’s Watch Performance Chronograph 41 Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team, dedicated to IWC’s motorsport partner. It features a Ceratanium case and a ceramic bezel with a tachymeter scale. ✈
