Source:REUTERS/Hasnoor Hussain
[Saba Sports News] F1 seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton’s rumored switch to Ferrari has sent shock waves through the global fan base, creating more excitement than the eruption of Mount Etna in Italy. Reports indicate that Ferrari has offered Hamilton a 2+1 contract, meaning he will be with the team at least until the end of 2026. The most shocking aspect is that the 39-year-old Hamilton has secured a staggering contract worth nearly 100 million dollars per year, making him the highest-paid F1 driver in Ferrari’s history, surpassing the legendary Michael Schumacher. Even more impressive, Hamilton’s earnings over the next two years will significantly exceed the 70 million dollars of reigning champion Max Verstappen. According to media reports, this 100 million dollar salary is not a no-strings-attached base salary; it includes base salary, bonuses, various sponsorships, and image rights. Hamilton will receive a base salary of 47.7 million dollars, part of which is reportedly paid by the Italian holding company EXOR NV, a major shareholder of Ferrari. Even more unexpectedly, the Agnelli family behind EXOR NV has established a 260 million dollar joint investment fund, contributing 20 million dollars annually to Hamilton’s MISSION 44 Foundation, effectively gifting Hamilton’s foundation with a substantial annual donation. Fans have quipped that it’s no wonder Hamilton is willing to endure public pressure to join the Ferrari F1 team.