Never one to race on autopilot, Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time Formula 1 world champion, is mixing gears and routes with speed and style as he revamps the memorabilia circuit in collaboration with Fanatics Collectibles. In a bold red Ferrari for his inaugural season with the iconic team, Hamilton has also turned a new leaf from his longstanding partnership with Mercedes. While Formula 1’s most illustrious competitor has changed his racing attire, he’s crafting exclusivity and nostalgia into a lucrative venture through an exciting, multi-year collaboration deal with Fanatics.
Buckle up, fans and collectors alike—Hamilton isn’t just offering a signature or two; he’s transforming traded collectibles into treasure maps. Under this extensive agreement, Hamilton’s authenticating swag grants him unparalleled creative controls over Topps-designed trading cards, all while channeling a share of proceeds to philanthropic pursuits. Fanatics, the sports titan which acquired Topps last year, now secures Hamilton’s exclusive autograph across their burgeoning memorabilia and collectibles line.
The engine roared last Friday on London’s Regent Street as Hamilton graced the ribbon-cutting ceremony of Fanatics Collectibles’ dazzling flagship store. There, the racing icon unveiled the first-ever one-of-one Topps Chrome F1 card featuring his go-get-’em Ferrari suit, elegantly inscribed with “Forza Ferrari”—a nod to his new team and eager fans thrumming with excitement worldwide. The limited red-parallel series, scarce with only five copies, has fueled a collector’s chase equivalent to a Grand Prix start.
Topps swooped the F1 trading card realm in 2020, riding the windfall brought about by Netflix’s gripping series Drive to Survive and the enveloping mania for trading cards that erupted during the pandemic. Since their takeover, eight Topps F1 cards have raked in over $100,000 at globe-spanning auctions, crowned by Hamilton’s legendary 2020 Chrome Superfractor that zoomed past $1 million in December 2024. Another dazzler in his collection, a non-autographed Superfractor, scrapped the $900,000 mark in May 2022. And let’s not overlook his 2020 Chrome Sapphire Padparadscha 1/1, rounding at an eye-watering $740,000 that September.
In a conversation with The Athletic before departing for the high-octane Miami Grand Prix, Hamilton offered a rare glimpse into his personal territory of collections and reminiscences. “Back in the day, every single spare penny went into Premier League stickers,” he reminisced. The thrill of ripping open a pack and trading stickers was his childhood currency—never foreseeing his memorabilia would drive forward causes close to his heart one day.
The Flagship encounter was a spotlight on connection. Hamilton chuckled recounting how he met a fan, proud owner of a genuine one-of-one card. “He grew up rooting for F1 and Arsenal just like me. His story was a shared journey, a reminder we are a part of something much bigger.”
When quizzed on which momentos hold a sentimental pit appeal, Hamilton shared an evocative short list of “firsts.” A humble yellow go-kart helmet, spray-painted by his dad adding a poignant parenting touch; his debut Monaco trophy, a conqueror’s emblem; and the inaugural race suit he owned—all cherish a legacy of beginnings that outpace trophies and titles.
Off-race camaraderies reveal Hamilton’s eclectic taste—art including pieces from young Black or African artists, and escapades into vintage cars clutter his calm corners. His quieter hours unfold with a little pour of wine, admiring audacious painted narratives. Fun fact alert: amongst the oddest autograph requests encountered—a petite pair of Japanese boxer shorts, signed, as personally penned per the back. “Oddly enough, it brought someone great joy!” Hamilton admitted with a hearty laugh.
An expert collector in his own right, Hamilton eyes the future trajectory of collectible trading cards like a seasoned scout. His prospects? Kimi Antonelli, Oliver Bearman, and unequivocally Isack Hadjar—emphasizing the latter as a beacon in the collector’s radar to avidly watch.
Hamilton’s remarkable partnership with Fanatics Collectibles and the unfolding initiatives bring an encompassing canvas of speed, heart, and craftsmanship, capturing both the essence of racing and his enduring legacy. Lewis Hamilton is not merely racing on the asphalt tracks across continents; he’s navigating towards monumental pursuits—both in collectible markets and meaningful compassionate endeavors.