Hunter Schafer at the GQ Global Creativity Awards, dressed in a custom hand-painted Marni gown inspired by Vincent van Gogh's 'The Starry Night' (11th April 2024)
Since I was eight years old, I was really forced to conform. There was no room for anything other than racing. My routine was rigid. It was wake up, train, school, train, and race. And there was no room for, or support for anything else, to explore any other interests, no matter how curious I was. But looking back now, I realize that I was suppressing a big part of myself, a part of who I am.
Once I got to Formula 1 and I started achieving the things that I'd worked so hard to achieve, I knew something was missing. So I started to explore my creative side and I found things pulling me in like art and music and writing songs and designing clothes, and now making films. These are, and collaborating with people, and learning from people that are incredibly talented, those are the things that have kept me alive and the things that allow me to feel more fulfilled. And with my mind opened, creativity has made me a better driver, but more importantly, a better person.