Seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton has once again found himself linked to a potential takeover of one of the biggest football clubs in the world, Manchester United.
It has been reported by Reuters that the 38-year-old could be involved in a similar consortium which failed to buy Chelsea Football Club last year, after previous owner Roman Abramovich was forced to sell the club by the UK Government.
The consortium is once again being led by key Mercedes sponsor Ineos, who’s owner is British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
Interestingly, according to Sportune, 90-percent of Hamilton’s new multi-year contract with the Silver Arrows is going to be paid by Ineos, potentially highlighting the relationship that Hamilton and Ratcliffe have.
READ: Ex-F1 team owner reveals he rejected ‘several super interesting’ offers
Ratcliffe is actually the first bidder to publicly express his interest in purchasing the historic club since the current owners, the Glazers, announced that they were open to a full sale.
“We have formally put ourselves into the process,” Ratcliffe’s company stated, per Sky News.
Hamilton is actually a fan of Manchester Utd rivals Arsenal, an interesting prospect to consider should the 103-time Grand Prix winner be included in Ratcliffe’s consortium.
Hamilton revealed last September that he would be keen to join a bid with Ratcliffe for a professional team, with the Stevenage-born driver wanting to see more “black ownership” in professional sports, highlighting the driver’s personal desire to work with Ratcliffe once again.
“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,” Hamilton told The MEN.
“I don’t know where that will be or what that will be, so I can’t really say.
READ: McLaren not ‘too scared’ about Oscar Piastri
“I haven’t had a call from him asking if I want to be involved in that (a United 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.”
Whilst Ratcliffe’s and Hamilton’s net worth significantly differ, the advantage that the Mercedes star has is that his social media presence is extraordinary, something which will likely see the British driver win over younger fans.
As well as this, he is friends with several footballer players, something which could see him play a pivotal role when the club attempt to sign new players.