It’s not everyday that you see Lewis Hamilton, a seven-time F1 world champion, being described as “a nugget of love”, but that’s exactly what artist sensation Takashi Murakami has coined for the racer in his Instagram post. Yes, you read that right — the British racing driver flew all the way to Tokyo (Saitama Prefecture, to be exact) to meet the prolific streetwear influence. Not for nothing, though. The pair are set to release a collaborative collection under Hamilton’s label +44, centered around a “Psychedelic Speed Demon”.

For the uninitiated or hesitant, +44 is the F1 racer’s foray into the streetwear category. The number “44” holds special significance for Hamilton, who has stated that it’s his family’s lucky number and also his childhood go-kart’s number. Though the brand only has had one prior drop, it’s clear that the +44 brand will lean towards trippy but modern graphics, which is right up Murakami’s gallery-alley.

And undoubtedly, Murakami agrees, given the praises he sings about this meeting with “Sir Lewis Hamilton”, who lives on “another dimension” (his words!). In contemporary superflat style, Murakami’s iconic Mr DOB sprouts three pairs of eyes and receives the traditional trippy rainbow gradient overlay. Presumedly, this is the Speed Demon that the collection was based on. This graphic will appear throughout the range of pieces alongside Lewis Hamilton’s name in stylized font. Murakami’s recognisable smiling flowers also peek through in tonal shades.

It’s one of those collaborative collections that unabashedly place both brands’ elements on display, ensuring that no one will mistake it for anything else but a Lewis Hamilton +44 x Takashi Murakami piece. This capsule is slated to make a “speed of light” drop on 6 October, 9PM (SGT) on +44’s site. Visions of retail prices will likely be more opaque then.

In other collaborative news, check out the Universal Monsters that have invaded Levi’s.

Images via Timothy McGurr & TM/KK, @takashipom, @rkrkrk