Lewis Hamilton’s £2,100 Smart Bed
Sir Lewis Hamilton is the most successful Formula 1 driver ever. However, the 2022 F1 season has been fraught with struggles, from porpoising in the early season that made his car uncompetitive to mistakes like starting early at the Dutch Grand Prix restart.
Thankfully, the British ace has turned his fortunes around mid-season, climbing the driver’s table to sixth. Hamilton is now getting his mojo back after the 2021 finale, which saw Max Verstappen controversially claim the title in the last race.
What is the reason behind Hamilton finding form again? Mercedes GP has undoubtedly upped its game, giving him a better car. Hamilton has also cut down on mistakes and driven smoothly, putting in excellent times.
Mercedes has also deep-dived into optimising sleep, and it is here that things get interesting – could a fancy bed be behind Hamilton’s rise?
Hamilton’s £2,100 smart bed cover
Lewis Hamilton has a £2,100 mattress cover called the Sleep Eight Pod 3, which tracks his heart rate, respiratory rate, movements, sleep stages, and sleep time, providing advanced insights into sleep duration and quality.
It also continually and automatically adjusts the temperature of the sleep surface in response to data metrics. It can cool and heat between 12°C - 43°C, and the user can set a personalised schedule for different sleep stages.
This product is simple: the smart cover is installed on the mattress and connects to the dedicated Pod 3 Hub, which processes sensor data and acts as a gateway between the cover and the internet.
Smart features for the modern age
You access sleep insights and data with the Eight Sleep app on iOS/Android, which creates personalised health reports after each session.
Other handy features include the GentleRise Alarm, which vibrates the cover and subtly increases the temperature, and Temperature AutoPilot, which learns your favourite thermal environment and adjusts to optimise your sleep experience.
With so many handy features and new insights into his sleep, Lewis Hamilton has a powerful new way to optimise his performance on the track.
In our article on sleep deprivation, we discussed how sleep deprivation impacts our immunity, memory, metabolism, physical performance, and sex drive. It can also increase anxiety and exasperate low mood and depression.
With better sleep, Lewis Hamilton is on track to recover from his early season woes. Merc Boss Toto Wolff agrees, “Our team is made up of over 2,000 people, all of whom perform at their peak daily in a sport where every detail matters.
“To achieve the level of performance required, we are relentless in exploring all possible optimisations, including sleep.”
Active sleep covers - the future of sleep?
You can harness the power of smart sleep insights with a fitness band or smartwatch, but the Pod 3 smart cover goes much further than this.
The Pod 3 actively cools and heats the sleep surface in response to heart rate, respiratory rate, movement, and sleep stages. This ‘active’ sleep device doesn’t just collect data – it is built to improve sleep quality in real time.
By regulating the temperature of the sleep surface, the Pod 3 keeps Lewis Hamilton comfy in any environment, irrespective of the climate.
The advent of sleep trackers has connected us to our sleep in new ways. Still, they do not improve sleep independently - the Pod 3 does, raising the possibility that beds that actively make us comfortable are the future.
How to improve your sleep on the cheap
If you can’t afford the £2,100 Pod 3, there are other ways to improve your sleep:
- Buy a comfortable mattress that supports your sleep position.
- Choose a temperature-regulating mattress technology like graphite memory foam (e.g., Sleepeezee G4) or bamboo-charcoal memory foam. (e.g., Mlily Superb).
- Avoid caffeine six hours before bedtime.
- Read a book before bedtime – according to this study, reading before rest improves sleep in 22% of people.
Check out our top tips for a better night’s Sleep article for more ideas.