Lewis Hamilton, the virtuoso steering wheel maestro with seven Formula 1 World Championships to his name, has done it again—nope, not clinching another title (not yet, anyway). This time, he’s taken the world of sports collectibles by storm, penning a landmark multi-year agreement with Fanatics Collectibles. Just as he slips into a bright red Ferrari suit this season, fresh from 12 years of crafting F1 poetry at Mercedes, Hamilton is poised to roll out a dazzling collection of officially licensed memorabilia and trading cards under an exclusive autograph deal with Topps, a jewel acquired by Fanatics in 2022.

Consider the deal an elevation of Hamilton’s already stratospheric presence in the trading card arena. This article of commerce promises authenticated signatures, slice-of-history race-worn gear, and Topps-produced releases bearing the revered Hamilton aura. Previously cameoing in Topps’ general F1 card universe, this fresh accord grants Hamilton the reins of creative input on card designs—a move that allows fans to see him translate high-speed artistry into tangible form while channeling proceeds toward charitable endeavors dear to his heart.

London’s Regent Street echoed sounds of excitement last Friday as Hamilton graced Fanatics Collectibles’ flagship location to snip the ceremonial ribbon. Enter his first one-of-one Topps Chrome F1 card, stylishly ensconced in Ferrari red, captioned enchantingly with “Forza Ferrari.” Just five crimson copies have been set afloat, already sparking a global collector’s mania.

Topps masterfully snapped up F1’s trading card and sticker rights in 2020, riding the cultural uptick instigated by Netflix’s rollercoaster docu-series ‘Drive to Survive’ and the pandemic-fueled trading-card resurgence. Since then, eight opulent Topps F1 cards have commanded over $100,000 at auction. At the crown sits Hamilton’s unique 2020 Chrome Superfractor, majestically smashing the million-dollar barrier come December 2024. Not far behind trudges his non-autographed Superfractor, pegged at $900,000 in May 2022, and his 2020 Chrome Sapphire Padparadscha 1/1, triumphant at $740,000 in September of the same year.

In a tête-à-tête with The Athletic pre-Miami Grand Prix, Hamilton recounted childhood days congenially spent in pursuit of collectibles. “As a kid, I’d spend every spare penny on Premier League stickers,” he reminisced. “Trading those packs with friends meant everything. I never imagined one day my own memorabilia would support causes I care about.”

Hamilton’s interaction with devotees at the London outlet resonated deeply. “I met someone who bought one of my one-of-one cards,” he laughed heartily. “He grew up watching F1 and Arsenal just like me. Hearing his story made me feel we’re part of something bigger.”

Probe into the repertoire fueling his sentimentality, and Hamilton inevitably zeroes in on three prized relics: his inaugural yellow go-kart helmet, lovingly custom-spray-painted by paternal hands at B&Q, his debut Monaco trophy, and the seminal race suit that initiated him into the adrenaline-charged world of competitive racing. “Those ‘firsts’ mean more than anything,” he reverently remarked.

Beyond the asphalt arenas where engines roar, Hamilton dips into other collector’s realms. His tastes unfurl beyond the racetracks as he curates art and vintage automobiles, but his soundest solace lies in quieter spaces surrounded by canvases. “I love sitting with a glass of wine, admiring a piece by a young Black or African artist,” he confided with a glint of introspection. For the curious collector in him, offbeat requests often punctuate his moments of fame, none more amusingly strange than the signature he penned across a pair of miniature Japanese boxer shorts—at the owner’s peculiar behest. “It was bizarre,” he confessed, bemused. “But hey, it made someone’s day!”

A sage for the discerning collector or investor seeking the next card enigma, Hamilton directs eyes toward young guns: Kimi Antonelli, Oliver Bearman, and Isack Hadjar. “He’s one to watch,” Hamilton attested confidently.

His partnership with Fanatics heightens the stages of admiration not only showcasing Hamilton’s prowess behind the wheel but also his heartfelt dedication to causes through the universal language of collectibles. As Lewis decelerates into Ferrari’s crimson hues with big dreams and even bigger ambitions, collectors worldwide are just as eager to embrace this new page in his illustrious narrative.

Fanatics London Store