While some fans find it is impossible to imagine the Formula 1 world without Lewis Hamilton since his debut in 2007 and after seven world championship titles, but the fact remains that he is closer to 40 now and is actively seeking a career after racing. Indeed the British driver has had little to do with football, the national sport of the UK, but that could change now with a serious bid to own the world-renowned football club, Manchester United.

The English tabloid, The Mirror, confirms the reports within the paddock that the Mercedes driver is part of an investor group that wants to buy Manchester United. The global brand, currently third in the English Premier League, is currently owned by the Glazer family. The American’s bought almost all the shares of the “Red Devils” between 2003 and 2008, owning 98 percent of the club.

 

 

 

Glazers ready to sell…

After having ruled out a sale for a long time, the family is now said to be ready for talks. Despite the astronomical purchase price, which is estimated to be well over the billion-dollar mark, the first interested parties are said to already exist. According to the British press, Hamilton is one of them.

 

Despite an estimated annual salary of around 50 million euros, the darling of Formula 1 cannot afford it on his own. The most important contact for Hamilton, and the head of the investor group is Sir James Ratcliffe. The billionaire, who is the founder and boss of the chemical company “Ineos”, is no stranger to the Mercedes driver.

 

 

On the contrary. The two British men have known each other for years. Ratcliffe and his company own 33 per cent of the Silver Arrows Formula One racing team, Hamilton’s employer. When Ratcliffe, who is privately a Manchester United fan, caught wind of the fact that his favourite club was up for sale, he used his clout to get a prominent face to join his group.

 

This is not the first time Hamilton has tried to buy a football club. Last year it became known that he wanted to buy both Chelsea FC and Arsenal FC as part of an investor group but without success.

In the past, Hamilton explained his motivation to the Mirror:

“I want to be a club owner more and more, because I think there are far too few black team owners in sport.”

READ MORE: Wolff concerned over potential Hamilton F1 ban