Lewis Hamilton swapped the pit lane for the runway as he took time out to support his friend Olivier Rousteing at Paris Fashion Week . The reigning world champion was enjoying some time off before the new Formula One season kicks off in Australia on March 15 . Mercedes driver Hamilton attended the Balmain show in Paris on Thursday evening . Lewis Hamilton posted this picture after attending a friend 's show at Paris Fashion Week . Mercedes driver Hamilton attended the Balmain show in Paris on Thursday evening . Former McLaren driver Hamilton poses for a picture in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris . He then posted a picture online of him with some of the models and said : 'Big congrats to my brother @ olivier_rousteing for his show today @ balmainparis very proud ! ' After the show , Hamilton attended an after-show dinner as part of Paris Fashion Week , where he was accompanied by some big names from the world of music and film . The 30-year-old was pictured alongside singer and actor Jared Leto , as well as Kanye West and wife Kim Kardashian , who was sporting a new blonde hairstyle . Hamilton was joined at the after-party by Jared Leto , Kanye West , Olivier Rousteing and Kim Kardashian ( l-r ) Hamilton poses alongside French fashion designer Rousteing ( left ) and poses for the cameras ( right ) Hamilton speaks to actor and singer Leto ( centre ) , while television personality Kris Jenner looks on ( left ) Hamilton laughs as he speaks to British fashion designer Edward Enninful at the Balmain aftershow dinner . On the track , Mercedes were considerably faster than their opponents in 2015 and early signs suggest the same will be true this season . Hamilton , though , is eager for competition . Speaking to Laureus.com , he said : ' I like to race , I really like to race . The 2015 cars are going to be evolutions of last year 's cars , so it 'll be the same people that we were racing with last year . Red Bull , Williams , and then you 're hoping that it 's a bit of a better year for those like McLaren and Ferrari , so that we have more people to race . The more the merrier . 'There was one year the first seven races were won by a different driver , a different team , that 's what people want to see . But , most importantly , if the cars are close you can have real races where you 're overtaking and battling and that 's what I love doing . That 's what racing 's about . ' Hamilton takes a break after training for the new F1 season , which starts in March . Jourdan Dunn ( left ) and Karlie Kloss were also guests at the Balmain Aftershow dinner in Paris on Thursday . Hamilton drives his new car on F1 testing day in Barcelona in late February . The reigning world champion poses for a picture with Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg .
HamiltonLewis Hamilton attended Paris Fashion Week to support a friend . Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton attended the Balmain show . The first race of the season is in Australia on March 15 . CLICK HERE for all the latest F1 news .