Kendall Jenner and Lewis Hamilton: Dating Rumors Explained

Did Kendall Jenner and Lewis Hamilton ever actually date? The supermodel and the Formula 1 champion were linked by romance rumors back in 2015, when a string of glamorous public appearances — from the Monaco Grand Prix to a Cannes yacht — set tongues wagging. A decade later, the old headlines have resurfaced with a twist: Hamilton has now gone public with Kim Kardashian, Kendall’s older sister. Here is the full story behind the Kendall Jenner and Lewis Hamilton dating rumors, and what really happened.

Table of Contents

• Who Is Kendall Jenner?
• Who Is Lewis Hamilton?
• The Kendall Jenner and Lewis Hamilton Story: Rumor Timeline
• Key Facts About Kendall Jenner and Lewis Hamilton
• Recent Updates: The Kim Kardashian Twist
• Frequently Asked Questions

Who Is Kendall Jenner?

Kendall Jenner, born November 3, 1995, in Los Angeles, California, is an American supermodel and television personality. Rising to fame on Keeping Up with the Kardashians, she built one of the most successful modeling careers of her generation, walking for Chanel, Versace, and Victoria’s Secret, and becoming one of the world’s highest-paid models. She later launched 818 Tequila and has been linked to high-profile relationships, including with rapper Bad Bunny — a pairing covered in our Kendall Jenner and Bad Bunny story.

Who Is Lewis Hamilton?

Lewis Hamilton, born January 7, 1985, in Stevenage, England, is a British racing driver and seven-time Formula 1 World Champion — tied for the most titles in the sport’s history. Known for his record-breaking wins, poles, and podiums, Hamilton is also a fashion icon, activist, and one of the most marketable athletes on the planet. His high-profile social circle has linked him to numerous celebrities over the years, including fellow athlete Serena Williams, though he has kept most of his personal life private.

The Kendall Jenner and Lewis Hamilton Story: Rumor Timeline

2015 — The Cannes spark: When Kendall Jenner was 19 and Hamilton 30, the pair were spotted together at the Cannes Film Festival. Us Weekly reported that Hamilton had told friends he’d love to take her out on a “proper date,” calling her “really cute and smart.”

May 2015 — Monaco Grand Prix: Jenner was photographed at the Monaco Grand Prix wearing Hamilton’s signature gold chain — the image that truly ignited dating speculation. The two were also seen enjoying London nightlife together and partying aboard Hamilton’s yacht during the race weekend.

Summer 2015 — Yacht flirtation reports: Sources claimed Hamilton had invited Kendall and her friends to stay on his yacht, describing them as “very flirty,” with Hamilton playfully spraying water at Jenner from the back of a jet ski.

2016 — Hamilton shuts it down: Addressing the speculation directly, Hamilton told E! News: “Me and Kendall have been friends for a while, so we’re just friends.” He praised her as “incredible,” “focused,” “level-headed,” and “very grown up.”

2015–2026 — Just friends: Despite continued sightings at events like a Drake concert in London, neither ever confirmed a romance, and both maintained the relationship was purely platonic.

2026 — Rumors resurface: The decade-old headlines found new life when Hamilton went public with Kim Kardashian, Kendall’s older sister, prompting fans to revisit his history with the Kardashian-Jenner family.

Key Facts About Kendall Jenner and Lewis Hamilton

• They never dated. Despite years of speculation, Hamilton explicitly denied any romantic involvement, and neither party ever confirmed a relationship.
• The gold chain photo started it all. Jenner wearing Hamilton’s signature gold necklace at Monaco 2015 remains the most-cited “evidence” of the rumored romance.
• An 11-year age gap fueled debate. Jenner was 19 and Hamilton 30 when the rumors began, which drew extra media scrutiny.
• Hamilton’s denial was unusually direct. His 2016 E! News statement — “we’re just friends” — is one of his clearest on-the-record comments about any rumored relationship.
• The friendship endured. The pair continued appearing at the same events for years, consistent with a genuine platonic friendship rather than a fling.
• Now the family connection is real — via Kim. In 2026, Hamilton hard-launched a relationship with Kim Kardashian, making him romantically linked to the Kardashian-Jenner family after all — just with the older sister.

Recent Updates: The Kim Kardashian Twist

The Kendall Jenner and Lewis Hamilton story took an unexpected turn in 2026. Hamilton and Kim Kardashian officially confirmed their relationship — reportedly at the Super Bowl — and have since gone public with affectionate vacation photos and time spent with Kardashian’s children. According to gossip sources, Kim is the only Kardashian-Jenner sister Hamilton has ever dated, putting the Kendall rumors to rest for good. Insiders describe Hamilton and Kim as a budding “power couple” who can talk about anything “from politics, to diet, to spirituality.” Naturally, the internet did what it does best: dug up every 2015 photo of Hamilton and Kendall, from the yacht to the gold chain, and asked — did they or didn’t they? The answer, per Hamilton himself, remains: just friends.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Kendall Jenner and Lewis Hamilton date?
No. Although they were linked by dating rumors in 2015, Hamilton denied it directly, telling E! News in 2016 that they were “just friends,” and neither ever confirmed a romance.

When were Kendall Jenner and Lewis Hamilton linked?
The rumors peaked in 2015, after sightings at the Cannes Film Festival, the Monaco Grand Prix (where Jenner wore his gold chain), his yacht, and London nightlife.

Why did people think Kendall Jenner and Lewis Hamilton were dating?
Frequent glamorous appearances together, flirtatious-looking yacht photos, and Jenner wearing Hamilton’s signature gold necklace fueled the speculation.

Is Lewis Hamilton dating Kim Kardashian now?
Yes. In 2026, Hamilton and Kim Kardashian — Kendall Jenner’s older sister — went public with their relationship, which is what revived the old Kendall rumors.

Are Kendall Jenner and Lewis Hamilton still friends?
Both have described their bond as a long-standing platonic friendship, and they have continued to move in the same celebrity circles over the years.

How old were Kendall Jenner and Lewis Hamilton during the rumors?
Jenner was 19 and Hamilton was 30 when the dating speculation began in 2015.

The Kendall Jenner and Lewis Hamilton saga is a classic case of celebrity rumor versus reality: all the ingredients of a romance — yachts, gold chains, and Cannes nights — but, by both parties’ accounts, just a friendship. A decade on, the story has an ironic final chapter, with Hamilton now dating Kendall’s sister Kim. Whether as friends or family-adjacent, the supermodel and the racing champion remain two of the most-watched names in pop culture.