Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton has revealed he was inspired to go vegan by fellow sporting superstar Novak Djokovic. 

The pair famously follow a plant-based diet, and are both at the top of their game. Hamilton sits at the top of the Formula 1 drivers standings while Novak Djokovic won Wimbledon this month (July 2019), after which he credited his diet for his fast recovery time.

And Hamilton has explained in an interview that he made the plunge last year partly after noticing the success of Djokovic.

“Just look at Djokovic, that little bit extra that’s there, that people are reluctant to look in to…” he was quoted by Esquire.

“I don’t have to do much, just do my job and hopefully they’ll catch the good sides of me and edit out the bad.”

The Game Changers

Hamilton and Djokovic are both executive producers for documentary The Game Changers – a star-studded documentary which showcases the benefits of plant-based eating for athletic performance – which is set to release this year.

Hamilton Tweeted about the documentary: “Performance is everything and it all begins with having the right kind of fuel in our bodies. I’m proud to be Exec Producer on ‘The Game Changers’. It’s a revolutionary new documentary movie and I can’t wait for you guys to see it this September.”

Arnold Schwarzenegger features in the trailer for the documentary, in which he says: “I ate a lot of meat. They showed us commercials selling the idea that real men eat meat. But you’ve got to understand – that’s marketing. That’s not based on reality.”

The Game Changers will premier in 1,000 cinemas globally on September 17.

The filmmakers explain: “The Game Changers is a new film executive produced by James Cameron, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jackie Chan that documents the explosive rise of plant-based eating in professional sports, mixing real-time, groundbreaking science with cinematic stories of struggle and triumph.

“The film features some of the strongest, fastest and toughest athletes on the planet – and it’s backed by them too – with additional EPs including Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton, top-ranked tennis player Novak Djokovic, and nine-time NBA All-Star Chris Paul.

“Directed by Oscar®-winner Louie Psihoyos, follows the story of James Wilks – elite Special Forces trainer and winner of The Game Changers The Ultimate Fighter – as he travels the world on a quest for the truth about meat, protein, and strength. Showcasing elite athletes, special ops soldiers, and visionary scientists. Wilks’ journey exposes outdated myths about food that not only affect human performance, but the health of the entire global population.”

• Read: Woody Harrelson convinced Stranger Things star Sadie Sink to go vegan

What do you think of The Game Changers? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Oli Gross

Oli’s career and personal ethical values both help shape his reporting of the diverse world of veganism. His background is in local newspaper and magazine journalism, and his work has included reporting court cases, celebrity interviews, business analysis, food and drink features and government legislation.

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