LEWIS HAMILTON SEALED his fifth Formula One title at the Mexican Grand Prix on October 29, despite a fourth-place finish. He is now tied with Argentine great Juan Manuel Fangio as the second most successful driver of all time, but Schumacher holds the record with seven Title Wins.
Hamilton won his fourth F1 title in 2017, becoming just the fifth driver in history with four championships. The British race car driver is in the final year of a three-year contract extension that kicked off with the 2016 season. It is likely to pay out more than $120 million, including bonuses. Mercedes and Hamilton are reportedly close to finalizing a new blockbuster three-year deal, tying him to Mercedes through 2021.
Hamilton is the most marketable driver in the sport, boasting endorsement deals with Mercedes- Benz, Tommy Hilfiger, Monster Energy, Puma, IWC, Sony, Bombardier, Bell Helmets and MV Agusta Motorcycles. The Hilfiger deal signed in 2018 makes Hamilton a brand ambassador with plans for him to promote the Hilfiger Collection, Tommy Hilfiger Tailored line and its range of menswear, underwear and swimwear.