Lewis Hamilton and Kim Kardashian may have looked cozy in Malibu, but one body language expert is not buying the romance angle.
The F1 star and the reality mogul were photographed together during a beach outing in California, adding more fuel to weeks of dating talk. The pair had already been spotted together at Coachella 2026 and sitting side by side at the 2026 Super Bowl.
Then Kardashian posted an Instagram photo on April 16 sitting on Hamilton’s lap. His face was hidden, but his tattooed hands were visible, which was enough for fans to connect the dots.
For a pair supposedly keeping things quiet, the rollout has been very public.
Expert Says The Photos Look Staged
Body language specialist Inbaal Honigman, speaking on behalf of Casino.org, said the Malibu photos looked more like a media moment than a romantic one.
“Their body language, facial expressions and the way they relate to one another are not genuine, warm or loving, but casual, friendly and giggly,” she said.
Honigman argued the beach scenes looked planned for attention.
“The pair frolic on the beach like a couple of best friends working together, there is no passion or attraction detected,” she said. “Framing this as a date is incorrect, this is a fake scene that is created for photos and likes.”
That is a brutal read, especially for fans who saw the beach shots as proof that the rumored relationship was getting serious.
One image showed Hamilton’s hand resting on Kardashian’s backside, which some viewers took as a clear sign of intimacy. Honigman disagreed. “He’s simply posing with it like a trophy,” she said.
The ‘Showmance’ Label Is Getting Louder
Honigman also pointed to the quieter photos from the outing, including shots of Hamilton and Kardashian drying off with matching towels. “Each of them is taking the space to dry off alone, without helping each other or checking in with one another,” she said, calling it “a big tip-off that they’re not a couple.”
Even their hug did not convince her. She said the pair looked comfortable together, but more like friends or colleagues than romantic partners. “They’re having fun together, their smiles are genuine and are enjoying each other’s company, but if there was no photographer there, they would not be there,” Honigman argued.
Her biggest issue was the lack of mutual focus. “There’s very little eye contact present in any of the photos,” she said. “The pair are seen side by side, looking in the same direction, not really giving each other their undivided attention. Kim and Lewis are spotted shoulder-to-shoulder like friends or colleagues, not like lovers.”
Neither Star Has Responded
Hamilton and Kardashian have not publicly responded to the “showmance” claim. Their representatives have also not commented on the expert’s assessment.
Body language analysis is opinion, not confirmation. The photos may look staged to one expert, while the actual relationship behind the scenes could be more complicated.
Still, Kardashian and Hamilton both understand the power of a carefully timed image. Kardashian has built a massive brand around visual control and public curiosity. Hamilton is more private, but he knows exactly how fame works under global attention.
Whether this is a romance, a friendship, or pure business, the Malibu photos did what celebrity photos are supposed to do.
