Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time Formula One world champion revealed ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in mid-September that he has sold his entire $13 million plus dollar collection of luxury cars — a garage once filled with rare Ferraris, bespoke Mercedes, and multimillion-dollar hyper-cars. For a man whose life has been defined by speed, this decision feels like lifting off the accelerator for the first time.
“I don’t have any cars any more. ”Lewis said in a media session ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. “I got rid of all my cars. I’m more into art nowadays.”
The admission raised eyebrows, and not just among racing fans. For years, Hamilton was as famous for his lavish lifestyle as he was for dominating racetracks. He arrived at events in custom sports cars, posed with limited-edition models, and became a style icon who blurred the line between sport and celebrity.
Hamilton’s change of direction isn’t entirely out of the blue. Over the last five years, he has taken noticeable steps toward a more environmentally conscious lifestyle.
He sold his private jet in 2019, went plant-based, and often speaks about the importance of reducing carbon emissions. Formula One itself has been under pressure to adapt, with the sport committing to a net-zero carbon plan by 2030. For Hamilton, selling his supercar collection seems like a natural extension of this broader shift.
It’s a remarkable turn for a man who once owned a custom-built Pagani Zonda 760 LH, one of the rarest supercars on Earth. Reports suggest he parted ways with models from Ferrari, Mercedes-AMG, McLaren, and even limited-production hypercars worth millions of dollars combined.
Beyond sustainability, Hamilton has discovered a new muse: art.
“If I was going to get a car, it would be the Ferrari F40. But that’s a nice piece of art,” he said.
The F40, Ferrari’s last model overseen by founder Enzo Ferrari before his death, is revered not just for performance but for design heritage. Hamilton, no longer views cars as status symbols or adrenaline machines — they are cultural artifacts, appreciated the way one might hang a painting or sculpture.
This passion for art is not entirely surprising. Hamilton has become a fixture in the fashion world, collaborating with brands like Tommy Hilfiger, attending Met Gala red carpets, and supporting Black designers. His aesthetic sensibility is evolving, and his latest pivot aligns him more with artists and cultural tastemakers than with fellow car collectors.
Selling the cars might just be another step in Hamilton’s transformation from Formula One driver to global icon. Already, his interests span fashion, music, social justice, and now art. In 2020, he founded the Hamilton Commission to promote diversity in motorsport, showing his commitment to legacy beyond racing.