Hamilton Could Outdo Schumacher in Earnings
Lewis Hamilton, the most successful F1 British driver not yet to win a championship, is moving up in the world of money. Analysts say he is in talks with apparel giant Reebok in order to secure a USD20 million deal for personal sponsorship. The Times of London as well as the Daily Mail report that Hamilton could overtake David Beckham as the richest British sportsman. Indeed some say even the great Schumacher whose worth is estimated at over USD1 billion, could fall foul to Hamilton during the years the youngster is actively racing.
McLaren is known not to allow drivers to ink personal sponsorship deals over and above those provided for the team, but Ron Dennis seems to have killed this notion by letting the Hamilton/Reebok deal happen. A representative of McLaren could only confirm that Lewis’s father, who’s also his manager, was in talks with Reebok.
Hamilton has shown tremendous potential early in his racing career and is said by many to be a future world champion. Therefore all the paydays he signs, including the new 5 year deal with McLaren worth USD140 million as well as deals with luxury watchmaker Tag Heuer, Boss clothing, Mobil oil and others, are based not only on current form but on a bankable future for the young star.
Stephen Cheliotis, chief executive of the Centre for Brand Analysis and chairman of the UK Superbrands and CoolBrands Council, told CNN earlier this year:
"He is young, mixing with the right people everyday -- rappers, film stars -- and a lot more articulate than Kimi Raikkonen,
"He is also the first black driver and it does have a bearing, much like Tiger Woods in golf. He is also the most marketable because he is going to be the best, much like Michael Schumacher."
That he can surpass Schumacher in earnings is entirely possible since the 7 times world champ is now retired, but the 23 year old Hamilton is still in big-time racing infancy. But whether he will realise this potential and make good on all the faith these brands are placing on him is another thing entirely.
Trypical British blah!!! People in that part of the world are really building castles in the air. This boy as far as i'm concerned is a has been (ha ha ha) Simply put - he's a loud mouth and just comparing him to Tiger Woods is pure idiocracy. Tiger won a Major before people statrted to liken him to the great golfers, Shumie raced the great Senna, Prost and many other F1 giants and he was behind the wheel of a not so great car. lewis on the other hand raced in a team that had raised and bull crapped him into believing he was the greatest. He raced in a car with dodgely aquired Ferrari technology. Well let's see him become the greatest - good luck. I know he is not a Roger Fed Swiss of Tennis.
i agree completely. Hamilton has done NOTHING to justify and of these. the only achievement up to date is to have an almost guaranteed championship pulled away from him. its incredible, but the actual champion and current leader Raikkonnen has received no recognition. Someone would think that Hamilton was actually the current world champ.
Hamilton will have as many world championships in his career as David Coulthard and Jenson Button combined, that is exactly none.
that´s the world today, paying millions for wannabees. JOKE
that´s the world today, paying millions for wannabees. really a joke
Yeah, it seems Hamilton the Hamster is chasing money and fame coz maybe he knows that he is an already has been. Man i can't undrestand these Beano comic readers, they always sell off their sportsmen as world beaters. Hamilton the great - Yeah right coz even wayne Rooney is allegedly the best footballer in the world. This is really jumpin' the gun before it's loaded.
marketing wise,he earns it, pace wise ? let us just wait until the end of the season
The reason that he gets these deals is because these companies are trying to market their products. Its always about marketing. don't harp on him because of what THEY put on the table and say he is chasing dollars. If someone wanted to give you 1million to put your face on their products you would take it too. Plue he is the first mixed-race British driver for F1. He may not have won a championship but for a lot of black inner city youth here in america(at least the ones that I have met that DO keep up with F1) that means a lot to see someone of your ethnicity in F1. They are basing everything off of potential thinking that he will be the Tiger Woods of racing being mixed and dominating a sport the way he did.
I have to laugh at all these guys posting on here criticizing Hamilton for making money. What the hell would you guys do, turn down endorsement and sponsorship deals and say you're just in it for the racing? Stop being hypocritical and stupid: if you wanna hate on Hamilton just because you don't like his personality, or because he kicked your favorite driver's ass in his rookie season, that's cool. The fact is, you don't make it to F1 unless you've got talent, and Lewis Hamilton lost the driver's championship last year due to a bit of bad luck (a couple unexplained tire failures), some questionable team tactics (not calling him in to the pits sooner in China) and lack of experience, not lack of talent. And a lack of experience was (barely) understandable... HE WAS A ROOKIE AFTER ALL!!! He's not the one approaching sponsor's, they're approaching him. And thank God he's smarter than some of you, and knows well enough to make money while they're all trying their best to give it to him on a silver platter. As for whether or not he's worth it, he's only been in F1 for one full season. Smarter folks would reserve judgment until he has a few more seasons under his belt.
that is serious cake lol, go ahead young spurs get it while you can lol