LEWIS HAMILTON’s retirement may be sweetened by his incredible sponsorships OUTSIDE of racing.
The 37-year-old F1 ace is considering hanging up his helmet when his £40m-a-year Mercedes-Benz contract ends in 2023.
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Lewis Hamilton is considering retirement, but has plenty of sponsors to turn to
Worth around £300m, he has built his fortune on deals with fashion houses, watchmakers and even banks.
Hamilton recently became part owner of the NFL franchise, the Denver Broncos, in a £3.84 billion mega deal.
And that was after he tried to buy Chelsea with Serena Williams as part of Sir Martin Broughton’s consortium.
Hamilton is a man prepared for a life after sports. These are some of the most important offers of it.
Tommy Hilfiger
Fashion-conscious Hamilton is famous for his outfits in the paddock.
In 2018, Tommy Hilfiger began sponsoring Mercedes-Benz, with its famous logo plastered on his driving suit.
He then became the face of his menswear line and launched his own collaboration with the American fashion house.
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American fashion house Tommy Hilfiger has used Hamilton as a brand ambassador.
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Hamilton in style with model Winnie Harlow and singer Nicki Minaj at the Tommy Hilfiger x Lewis Hamilton launch party in 2018
Tommy Hilfiger is believed to pay Mercedes-Benz around £4m a year to back them, but it is not known if Hamilton benefits.
That said, they could lure you in with a personal deal IF you quit.
monstrous energy
Again earned through its association with Mercedes-Benz, Hamilton and Monster Energy Drinks work together independently of the F1 team.
In 2017, they partnered exclusively to launch a Hamilton-inspired drink.
He said at the time: “Monster Energy is a great brand
“They are involved in so many great sports that I watch as a fan and participate in during my spare time.
“It’s also a really exciting opportunity to meet and collaborate with other Monster athletes that I look up to. There are exciting times ahead.”
They have remained partners in drinks of late, suggesting that even in retirement, Hamilton would be a big deal for Monster.
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Monster Energy drink brand is one of Hamilton’s favoritesCredit: Getty
Cougar
For around £1.5m a year, Hamilton wears Puma on the racetrack and in the car.
He has also appeared in advertising campaigns wearing his latest sportswear.
Their partnership began in 2019 and shows no signs of letting up any time soon.
Like Nike with Michael Jordan, a lifetime deal with Hamilton could be on the cards.
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Puma pays Lewis Hamilton around £1.5m per year to wear their sportswearCredit: Instagram @agitkabayel
Swiss Union Bank
The Swiss bank has been a long-time sponsor of Hamilton, who is paid quite well.
He is reportedly said to earn more than £6 million for the privilege of being the face of UBS, the world’s largest private bank.
UBS has been heavily involved in F1 for years, considering the sport an important part of its sports sponsorship portfolio.
And Hamilton is, of course, at the top of the tree in the sport.
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UBS features heavily on Hamilton’s racing jerseyCredit: Getty
The real
Definitely because he is worth it.
In 2016, the French cosmetics company welcomed Hamilton as a brand ambassador.
He was featured in social media adverts, while becoming a global spokesperson for his Men Expert range.
Lewis was reportedly paid £1 million for his duties.
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Because he’s worth it, L’Oreal paid Hamilton £1 millionCredit: Getty
Bose
When he had to concentrate before a big race, Hamilton is often seen walking around the paddock with headphones in his ears.
Until recently, they were made by Bose, who paid around £2.5m to be Hamilton’s headphones of choice.
Audio equipment giants also provided Mercedes-Benz with Bose devices that were even modeled after team principal Toto Wolff during races.
However, their deal ended this year. However, that didn’t stop Hamilton from using them.
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Hamilton models his Bose headphonesCredit: Rex Features
CBI
IWC’s classy watches can cost up to £30,000, so it’s no wonder Hamilton has teamed up with them in 2019.
Swiss watchmakers even named a series of watches after him.
He actively promotes the brand, making appearances at launch events.
For that, he receives around £2 million per year.
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Since 2019, IWC has paid Hamilton £2 million per year to use its brand.Credit: Getty
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Hamilton attends Watches and Wonders 2022 with Chris Grainger-Herr, CEO of IWC Schaffhausen in AprilCredit: Getty
QuallComm
Hamilton is said to get a cut of the £7m the software giant pays Mercedes-Benz for its services.
Quallcomm has provided racing data and analysis for the driver and team since 2016.
It remains to be seen if they will continue to patronize him, after he left.
However, after he formed his own X44 race team, which made its Extreme E debut in 2021, he could continue to partner with them in future ventures.
Regardless of what you choose, Hamilton has always been a marketing dream for any brand, even after retirement.
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Even if he retires from the sport, Hamilton will sit well with many sponsors.Credit: rex
Source: www.the-sun.com