Lewis Hamilton linked with Manchester United takeover alongside Mercedes co-owner
Lewis Hamilton smiles with his thumbs up. Mexico City, Mexico. October 2022.
Having previously been unsuccessful in his bid to buy Chelsea, could Manchester United be the next target for Lewis Hamilton?
Although the seven-time World Champion remains very much focused on his Formula 1 endeavours with Mercedes, in recent years he has increasingly built up his business interests outside of F1.
That has included the sports industry, having become a part-owner of NFL side the Denver Broncos.
And Premier League football club Chelsea were almost next on the list, Hamilton having joined tennis legend Serena Williams in backing Sir Martin Broughton’s consortium which recently tried to purchase the club, but was unsuccessful.
And with the Glazer family, controversial owner of Chelsea’s Premier League rival Manchester United, now seemingly open to relinquishing at least some of their ownership of the club, this has brought Hamilton’s name into play, as reported by The Mirror.
Previously, British multi-billionaire and co-owner of the Mercedes Formula 1 team through Ineos, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, put his interest in buying Manchester United, the team that he supports, on record.
And Hamilton’s past comments on the matter suggest that if Ratcliffe does make an offer, then he very well could be a part of the efforts too, having stated his desire to get more involved with team ownership and embark on a project with Ratcliffe.
“Jim’s part boss but partner – I’d say we’re more partners because we’re in this together and I hope in future to do something with Jim and build with him,” said Hamilton at the time that Ratcliffe’s Manchester United interest was last in the public spotlight.
“I don’t know where that will be or what that will be, so I can’t really say.
“I haven’t had a call from him asking if I want to be involved in [a United takeover bid] just yet, but I do want to get more and more involved in teams because I really do believe in black ownership – there is a lack of it in sports – and black equity. Again, there is a real lack of that.”
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As for Hamilton’s business on the track, he will return in F1 2023 looking to put a difficult 2022 campaign behind him, one where he finished a season without a race win for the first time in his F1 career.
George Russell scored Mercedes’ only win of the season in Brazil, finishing his first Mercedes season 35 points ahead of Hamilton.
But, with Hamilton appearing to return to a level near his best as the year went on, he remains a favourite to take a record eighth World Championship in 2023 if the Mercedes W14 is up to the task.
