lewis hamilton new yacht

The eye-watering value and spec of Hamilton’s luxury yacht in Monaco

28 may 2023 05:43.

Source: Crash.net

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Lewis Hamilton Sets The Pace As Charter Yachts Arrive In Monaco

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By Oliver Pearson   26 May 2016

As the estimable British driver headed the timesheet for the practice laps around the iconic track, the surrounding waters of Monaco came alive with charter yachts migrating from the hotspots of Cannes .

Leaving behind the Old Port of Cannes for berths at the famous Port Hercule, charterers were today treated to a breathtaking performance from one of F1’s most interesting characters.

As we pointed out in an earlier story, the T-Dock is beginning to fill up as the superyachts migrate from the historic ports of Cannes .

With the sun breaking through the clouds around the French Riviera , visitors to the practice session this afternoon returned to sunbathing and sipping cocktails whilst watching the action unfold in front of them.

Unquestionably one of the best opportunities for an event charter, the Monaco Grand Prix has long been associated with yachting in the Mediterranean .

As the drivers prepare for the pivotal race this Sunday, we take a look at some of the charter yachts attending this year’s edition.

Perfectly suited for event charters, the 82m/268ft motor yacht ROMEA from Abeking & Rasmussen features an abundance of exterior space for enjoying the race.

Indeed, with a bridge deck large enough to host a home cinema, the area is just as impressive during the day, with an attachable bimini for shading when necessary.

A finalist for an interior award at the Showboats Design Awards this year, both the private and social spaces onboard are replete with contemporary flourishes and comfortable seating arrangements.

What’s more, M/Y ROMEA always includes a dedicated office space for anyone needing to attending to business whilst on charter.

Arguably the most classic of event charters, the Monaco Grand Prix combines the world’s most exciting sport with the unique charms of the Mediterranean

Another large yacht attending the Monaco Grand Prix 2016 is the 73m/238ft motor yacht VICKY .

Delivered from the Turkish shipyard Proteksan Turquoise, VICKY packs plenty of wow factor and provides charterers with numerous outdoor spaces in which to enjoy their environment.

Winning first place for ‘Recreational Area for Guest Use’ at the Showboats Design Awards 2013, and ‘Quality and Value’ at the World Superyacht Awards 2013, M/Y VICKY all but invites prospective charterers to take her to Monaco.

For parties keen to keep things going through the night, there’s also a professional DJ booth and dance floor- two features sure to be popular as she sits at anchor a short distance from Port Hercule.

Boasting a truly distinctive profile which ultimately earned her the award for ‘Best Exterior Design’ at the World Trophies 2014, the 66m/217ft motor yacht OKTO will no doubt be turning more than a few heads as she joins the proceedings this week.

Renowned for her silent cruising, M/Y OKTO is also regarded as an effortlessly cool charter yacht with a large swimming pool on the aft deck complemented by an engaging Alberto Pinto interior.

Whilst the abundance of outdoor deck space is sure to offer more than enough room for partying, the retractable balcony attached to the master suite provides a nice spot for guests to get away from it all at a moment’s notice.

In order to make further enquiries into the yachts attending this year’s Monaco Grand Prix, or to make arrangements for attending next year, please get in touch with your preferred charter broker .

Alternatively, take a look at all luxury yachts available for charter in Monaco .

Some Of The Charter Yachts Currently In Monaco

55m Turquoise Yachts 2008 / 2020

62m Viareggio SuperYachts 2010 / 2022

58m Trinity Yachts 2010 / 2020

55m Oceanfast 1991 / 2016

44m Benetti 2008

73m Turquoise Yachts 2012 / 2022

66m ISA 2014 / 2023

47m Sunseeker 2014 / 2018

82m Abeking & Rasmussen 2015 / 2021

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• Monaco Grand Prix 2016
• Monaco Grand Prix

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Revealed: Lewis Hamilton’s luxury lifestyle - houses, cars, yachts…

Hamilton is best-known for living in Monte Carlo, Monaco, and once shared a photo of his stunning view with the caption: "A place I call home, Monte Carlo. I am so blessed to live in such an incredible place.”

The exclusive Fontvieille area, where it is believed he lives, is famous for lavish properties. In 2007 Hamilton was linked with a £10m home.

His neighbours in Monaco include Max Verstappen, David Coulthard, Daniel Ricciardo, Valtteri Bottas and more…

        View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by Lewis Hamilton (@lewishamilton)

Hamilton spent $40m on a four-bed penthouse in Tribeca, a fashionable part of Manhattan, New York, in 2019, complete with a perfect view of the Hudson River - but he never really lived in the property, and has since sold it on at a profit.

He spent £18m on a mansion in west London in 2017. But neighbours were angry because Hamilton, who had barely set foot in the property, planned to chop down trees and carry out extensive renovation work, the Daily Mail reported!

Hamilton also has a place in Los Angeles, and another in Colorado, a location he enjoys during the F1 offseason.

“I am not in a relationship, I don’t have kids, my car is my baby,” Hamilton told The Independent.

His car collection is worth £13m and has included:

• A purple Pagani Zonda worth £1.6m, custom-built for Hamilton
• An ultra-rare 1966 Shelby 427 Cobra, worth £4m, is his prized asset
• Always interesting to see Hamilton in a red Ferrari LaFerrari, worth £1m
• There are only 275 Mercedes-AMG Project One cars made, worth £2m each, and obviously Hamilton owns one!
• The £230k-worth Mercedes-AMG SLS Black is his day-to-day runaround…
• A McLaren P1, worth £2m, keeps him in touch with his former F1 team
• A 1967 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, which can cost around £750k
• An electric Mercedes-Maybach 6
• A Mercedes Maybach S600, worth £800k
• A Honda CRF450RX Motocross bike
• An electric Maverick X3 dune buggy
• He bought his Sunseeker 90 yacht in 2009 for $4m

F1 drivers were banned from wearing jewellery in the paddock last year but that didn’t stop Hamilton rebelling by turning up to one race wearing three luxury watches worth a total of  £32,250 . He wore these three pieces from manufacturer IWC:

• Big Pilot’s Watch (£10,900) 
• Big Pilot’s Watch Top Gun Mojave Desert (£14,500) 
• Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team watch (£6,850)

Hamilton has spent years as the No1 earner on the list of F1 drivers salaries , although he has since fallen behind Max Verstappen.

Hamilton pocketed a $55m salary from Mercedes in 2023, according to Forbes, but not a single penny in bonuses.

Lewis Hamilton’s net worth was £300m in 2022, according to The Sunday Times Rich List.

It is regularly reported at between £200m-£300m.

Latest News

Does Monaco-Resident Lewis Hamilton Own a Yacht?

Lewis Hamilton is undoubtedly one of the greatest drivers in Formula One. Being a 7-time world champion is the reason that the Knight is one of the highest-paid drivers on the F1 grid.

Seeing that most drivers live a luxurious lifestyle when they are away from the track, it is no surprise that the Mercedes driver’s isn’t any different. Seeing the great amount of wealth Lewis has accumulated over the years, the Brit likes to spend on the finer things in life. One of them is a grand yacht.

The luxurious yacht of F1 driver Lewis Hamilton

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Formula One is an intensive sport, demanding top performances from every driver on the grid every race weekend. Looking at the intensity of the sport, it shouldn’t be surprising that drivers look forward to their downtime.

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For Hamilton , it might be going on his private Sunseeker yacht. The yacht is said to be 9o-foot-long, it also features long built-in sundecks, BBQ, modular lounge seating, and a dining area for eight. When the yacht isn’t being used it could be in Monaco, where Lewis resides, or in Nice. Additionally, the price tag is to be around $4 million .

Watch Story: From Shocking Lewis Hamilton Crash to Ferrari Pit Stop Blunder: Most Sensational Moments in Bahrain GP History

Can Lewis take home his eighth title this weekend?

The Knight has dominated the grid over the years in Formula One; having seven world championships to his name. However, this weekend at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the Mercedes driver could rewrite history by winning his eighth title in Formula One.

However, the 2021 season is challenging than most, as Hamilton finds himself in an intense title fight with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. Both, title contenders are equal on points as they head into Sunday’s race.

via Reuters

Formula One F1 – Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – December 10, 2021 Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton during practice REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed

The Brit has his eyes locked on his championship and will ensure the Dutch driver is kept in his rearview mirrors as they zip around Yas Marina this weekend for the final race of the season.

What are your predictions for Lewis this race weekend? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Read More:  Lewis Hamilton Walking a Tightrope as Threat of a 10-Place Grid Penalty Looms Large in Abu Dhabi

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Arpit Gomes

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British GP: Inside Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton's multimillion pound Sunseeker fit with a professional sized kitchen

He's even posted pictures of himself on the vessel to his legion of Instagram followers

• 14:42, 3 JUL 2022
• Updated 14:46, 3 JUL 2022

It is no secret that Dorset is home to the headquarters of a world-class yacht company that has many celebrity customers. Sunseekers International is a British luxury yacht brand based in Poole, but has since become a worldwide company, sought after by the rich and famous.

The likes of Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman , and F1 racing tycoon Eddie Jordan have their very own Sunseeker superyachts, but the list of known celebrities who own one of these luxury vessels appears to be growing. The latest famous face to own a fancy yacht is F1's seven time winner of the World Drivers' Championship title, Lewis Hamilton.

The F1 champion owns the impressive Sunseeker 90, which he reportedly bought for an eye-watering $4 million (£3.1m), according to Crash . The latest yacht model is now estimated to be worth a whopping £6.1 million, but could even reach up to £9 million once its been upgraded.

Read more: When and where you can see Queen's Baton Relay on Portland

Hamilton's Sunseeker is around 27.10m in length and offers a sleek interior design. The vessel can hold eight guests in four cabins, plus room to sleep some of the crew members.

Crash reports that the luxury interior is said to be of 'American walnut carpentry' equipped with air conditioning, a professional chef’s sized kitchen and a huge entertainment system. Other impressive specs include the yacht's speeds, which can reach up to 30 knots, and a cruising speed of 22 knots.

There is even an area fit for barbecues, so it seems an ideal yacht for socialising and relaxing. It also features the Bezenzoni ‘Ladder Gangway’, which allows guests to effortlessly access the watersports on offer.

The vessel is often kept in Monaco - apt for the world-class racer, as the destination is known for holding the prestigious F1 Grand Prix races. Hamilton is no stranger posting his lavish lifestyle to his 28.8m legion of followers on Instagram.

The 37-year-old has shared some photos of himself lounging on the Sunseeker 90 and enjoying the views of some of France's most scenic coastlines. He is due to next appear at the British Grand Prix, which will take place at Silverstone on Sunday, July 3.

You can stay up-to-date on the top news near you with Dorset Live's FREE newsletters – enter your email address at the top of the page or sign up to our newsletters here .

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Eiza Gonzalez, Lewis Hamilton, and friends hang out in luxury yacht

The two were joined by various friends, including film director baz luhrman, and tennis player jenny stray spetalen..

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Eiza Gonzalez is vacationing in Ibiza alongside some high profile friends. The Mexican actress was spotted aboard a luxury yacht with various notorious celebrities, including Lewis Hamilton, the film director Baz Luhrman , his wife Catherine Martin , and the daughter of Norwegian tycoon Oystein Stray Spetalen , Jenny Stray Spetalen , who is also a tennis player.

The group seemed to be having fun while relaxing, taking a dip in the sea, and enjoying the stunning view. Scroll down to have a look.

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Eiza Gonzalez, Lewis Hamilton and friends

Gonzalez looked stunning in a purple bikini. She paired rounded out her beach look with some black sunglasses.

Hamilton, Spetalen and Gonzalez hung out on the deck of the yacht.

Earlier this month, Hamilton participated in the British Grand Prix. It was rumored that he met up with Shakira , with the two striking up a friendship ever since she moved to Miami and watched him race at a sporting event.

The group was rounded out by director Baz Luhrman and his wife, Catherine Martin. Luhrman has previously directed films like “Romeo + Juliet,” “Moulin Rouge,” and most recently “Elvis.”

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• Entertainment

Shakira Hangs Out with F1 Star Lewis Hamilton on Boat Outing After 2023 Miami Grand Prix

Over the weekend, Shakira was photographed with Tom Cruise at the racing event

There's a "She Wolf" in your boat, Lewis Hamilton .

On Wednesday, Shakira was spotted hanging out with the British Formula One star and friends for a boat outing in Miami after attending the 2023 Grand Prix over the weekend.

The "Hips Don't Lie" performer, 46, donned a casual lavender look, while Hamilton, 38, wore swim trunks for the occasion — which came shortly after they reportedly met at Cipriani restaurant following the races.

At the Grand Prix, Shakira was also photographed enjoying the event with Tom Cruise as part of a group. Cruise, 60, also posed with Fast & Furious actors Vin Diesel and Ludacris at the race.

While chatting with Martin Brundle for Sky Sports on Sunday, Cruise did not hesitate to express his support for Hamilton. "Lewis always," he said. "He's a great friend of mine. I hope he has a great day."

The race was ultimately won by Dutch-Belgian driver Max Verstappen, with Hamilton placing sixth.

Shakira's attendance at the Grand Prix went down one day after she received Billboard's first Woman of the Year award at the inaugural Latin Women in Music gala . During her acceptance speech, she seemingly shared her thoughts on her headline-generating split from ex Gerard Piqué .

"This has been a year of seismic change in my life where I've felt more than ever — and very personally — what it is to be a woman," she told the audience while accepting her award .

"It's been a year where I've realized we women are stronger than we think, braver than we believed, more independent than we were taught to be," she continued.

"Because what woman hasn't at some time in her life forgotten herself because she's seeking the attention and love of someone else? It happened to me, more than once," she added.

Shakira, who announced her separation from the soccer star last June after first confirming their relationship in March 2011 , then talked about realizing her worth as a woman.

"But there comes a time in the life of every woman where she no longer depends on someone else to love and accept herself just as she is," she said. "A time when the search for someone else is replaced by the search for oneself."

Shakira added, "A time when the desire to be perfect is replaced by the desire to be authentic, and where finding someone who is faithful is less important than being faithful to ourselves."

She released her latest single, "Acróstico," on Friday — listen here .

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HABITS OF THE RICH

Offshore gurus help rich avoid taxes on jets and yachts.

Buying a $27-million private jet or plush mega-yacht means millions in sales taxes — unless you know the right pro.

Formula One auto racing star Lewis Hamilton got a new luxury jet, a $27 million candy-apple-red Bombardier Challenger 605 with Armani curtains. He also got a refund on the value-added tax.

And the lawyers at Appleby , an elite law firm founded in Bermuda, were there to help.

They teamed with the London-based accounting giant Ernst & Young to craft an arcane plan to sidestep the VAT, a consumption tax charged in Europe on everything from socks to cars. One of the conditions: Hamilton’s inaugural flight would have to touch down on the Isle of Man, the British crown dependency in the Irish Sea known for its lenient tax treatment of the world’s super-rich.

“This will involve a short stay, normally less than 2 hours,” Appleby said in a written explanation of the tax-avoidance strategy .

The four-time Formula One world champion was up to the challenge. He and his girlfriend, Pussycat Dolls pop star Nicole Scherzinger, planned to make a layover on the Isle of Man on their first time out to Europe on his new jet in January 2013, according to an itinerary sent to Appleby.

Whether Hamilton actually made the trip could not be learned. But in the end, he did pick up a $5.2 million VAT refund, according to secret documents reviewed by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, the BBC, The Guardian, and more than 90 other media partners.

The documents come from the internal files of offshore law firm Appleby and corporate services provider Estera, two businesses that operated together under the Appleby name until Estera became independent in 2016. The files, which are now called the Paradise Papers , were originally leaked to the German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung and shared with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists.

In a statement to The Guardian, Hamilton’s lawyers said that the race car driver has a set of professionals in place who run most aspects of his business operations on his behalf and that no subterfuge or improper levels of secrecy have been put in place.

Shielding offshore trillions

The episode opens a window onto a low-profile network of lawyers, bankers, accountants, financial advisers and other professionals who operate offshore in the gray international area between tax jurisdictions. This global system exists largely to shield assets from taxes, creditors and competitors and has been instrumental in luring trillions of dollars offshore, leaving other taxpayers to make up the difference.

An offshore subspecialty that handles private jets and mega-yachts has prospered even as concerns about the wealth and privileges of the global 1 percent have grown.

The yacht-and-jet offshoring business extends far beyond secretive tax havens and discreet law firms. It has involved U.S. banking giants such as Wells Fargo & Co., respected regional banks such as the Bank of Utah, and U.S. legal powerhouses such as Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld. The banks have helped create trusts that have enabled otherwise ineligible foreigners to register jets in the United States, which can increase their resale value. Akin Gump helped an Arab monarchy qualify for a VAT refund on private jets it wanted to turn into spy planes. Ernst & Young worked with Appleby on a range of tax-related matters.

A spokeswoman for Wells Fargo said the bank is in the process of exiting the business of acting as trustee for foreign owners of non-commercial jets. “As a regular course of business, Wells Fargo evaluates its products and services to make sure we deliver the best experience for our customers while maintaining appropriate risk levels,” she said.

Alex Cobham, chief executive of Tax Justice Network, a U.K.-headquartered nonprofit that fights financial secrecy, said offshore ownership of luxury planes and boats is “a symptom of global inequalities.” These arrangements allow the rich to exploit the weaknesses of the international tax system through “hidden ownership and circular financing schemes,” he said.

Leaked documents from Appleby and other sources reveal a long list of rich and super-rich individuals who rely on offshore operatives to handle the tax issues and other challenges involved in owning luxury planes and boats. Among them: celebrities like Hamilton; the crown prince of Saudi Arabia and other royalty; and politicians and figures connected to them, such as Russian President Vladimir Putin’s friends the billionaire brothers Arkady and Boris Rotenberg.

U.S. President Donald Trump, too, has taken advantage of offshore arrangements to organize ownership of private aircraft.

Leaked documents from the Bermuda corporate registry, not related to Appleby, list Trump as the owner of a Bermuda shell company that in turn owned a Boeing 727 jet used by Trump, who put it up for sale in 2009. Trump disclosed the company, D.J. Aerospace (Bermuda) Ltd., in his election disclosure filings. Trump’s offshore ownership of the jet has been previously reported. The jet is now owned by Weststar Aviation, a Malaysian company.

The Wall Street Journal reported in December that another Trump aircraft – a Boeing 757-200 he used during his presidential campaign – is controlled through a complex ownership and leasing setup involving limited liability companies; the arrangement could have enabled Trump to avoid paying $3.1 million in New York sales tax upfront and to instead pay it in installments spread over many years.

Trump and Rotenberg did not respond to requests for comment from ICIJ and partners.

Isle of riches

A craggy, rain-swept island otherwise known for its tailless Manx cats, the Isle of Man has long been a key outpost in the offshore industry, thanks in large part to its close but ambiguous relationship with the United Kingdom.

It has a “partnership” with the U.K., but it controls its own domestic policy — and has turned itself into a hub in the global financial system by offering low tax rates and tolerating high levels of corporate secrecy. It didn’t have an aircraft registry until 2007 but now maintains the largest offshore plane registry in the world, with roughly 1,000 private airplanes, each generating fees for the island’s financial services industry, the Isle of Man’s biggest employer.

The registry’s growth is in part due to the Isle of Man’s lenient VAT policy and tolerance for arrangements that exploit it. Appleby alone has been responsible for creating companies that owned at least 48 private jets with an average price of $33.9 million, according to an analysis of the law firm’s internal documents by the BBC and ICIJ.

Appleby also has a big business in registering yachts, particularly in the Cayman Islands, where it has set up offshore companies that claim ownership of dozens of yachts and ships. The owners of these vessels include the royal families of the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, Russian fertilizer billionaire Andrey Guryev and Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. Guryev did not respond to request for comment. An Allen representative declined to comment.

On the Isle of Man, Appleby has drawn big-name customers by creating offshore arrangements that push the boundaries of EU tax rules, according to international tax experts contacted by ICIJ and its partners the BBC and The Guardian.

For instance, the Isle of Man grants, on a case-by-case basis, pre-approved exemptions that are not subject to public scrutiny. EU member states could choose to offer similar exemptions to the super-rich, but political pressures constrain them from doing so.

In 2011, under pressure from the European Union, the United Kingdom tightened a rule that had allowed owners to avoid the VAT if the aircraft weighed more than 8,000 kilograms.

That created an opening for firms on the the Isle of Man, which has access to the giant EU market through its relationship with the U.K., to attract even more offshore business.

Some of the complex Isle of Man arrangements don’t appear to meet the criteria set out in the EU’s VAT-exemption language, tax experts said. EU language, for instance, requires companies to be real operating businesses and not “letterbox” companies. “It doesn’t pass the smell test,” said Maria Martinez, a former international tax attorney now with the antipoverty nonprofit Oxfam America, referring to the Isle of Man’s handling of many tax arrangements.

After ICIJ partners sent questions about the arrangements to the Isle of Man’s government, its chief minister, Howard Quayle, called an October 23 press conference and declared: “We have found no evidence of wrongdoing or reason to believe that our customs and excise division has been involved in a mistaken refunding of VAT .” He added, “The Isle of Man is not a place that welcomes those seeking to evade or abusively avoid taxes.”

At the same time, however, Quayle announced that he had invited the U.K. treasury to conduct an assessment of the Isle’s jet-registration business.

And in response to The Guardian and ICIJ questions, the government disclosed that VAT refunds for 231 jets registered on the island had totaled more than $1 billion. Without the Isle of Man structures, much of that revenue would have gone to EU countries where the planes would have been registered.

How Lewis Hamilton’s jet deal flew

The exemption that Appleby helped secure for Formula One champ Hamilton’s jet, for instance, shows how expansively the Isle of Man interprets EU aircraft rules.

Appleby began with a pitch to Hamilton and his representatives: “By working with Ernst & Young LLC as a VAT specialist and through the use of their dedicated VAT Deferment Account together with appropriate structuring, the need to fund the VAT would not be required.”

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Officials from Ernst & Young and Appleby, and other advisers, exchanged emails and held conference calls to puzzle over how to deal with EU rules, which allow VAT refunds for private planes only when they’re used for business purposes by real companies that operate in the EU.

Appleby set up an Isle of Man company called Stealth (IOM) Ltd. to lease the jet from Hamilton’s British Virgin Islands holding company, Stealth Aviation Ltd., and import the plane to the Isle of Man and, thus, thanks to the island’s relationship with the U.K., into the EU. The letterbox company then subleased the plane to TAG Aviation Ltd., a third-party jet operator in England.

But EU rules require that the company that imports the plane be a real – not a shell – company that actually operates in the EU. Only “fixed establishments” are eligible, and a fixed establishment is defined as having a “sufficient degree of permanence and a suitable structure in terms of human and technical resources to enable it to provide the services which it supplies,” according to EU rules.

Stealth (IOM) Ltd. has no employees. Knock on the door at 33-37 Athol St. in Douglas, the capital, and you’ll find an Appleby office that also serves as headquarters for more than 1,100 companies and trusts. Stealth (IOM) has no staff and no building of its own. It has a “brass-plate” address and a single director, General Controllers Ltd. – another Appleby shell company used as a “nominee director,” a stand-in for the controlling parties.

Although the importing firm clearly exists only on paper, Isle of Man officials pre-approved Hamilton’s arrangement. After that, all that was required was a layover on the Isle of Man for customs to sign the jet’s paperwork allowing the VAT refund. Neither Hamilton nor his plane ever had to visit the island again, even though the firm that imported it is incorporated there.

Appleby sold its Isle of Man jet operation and the rest of its fiduciary business to the unit’s managers in early 2016; the new company took the name Estera.

In their statement, Hamilton’s lawyers said Stealth (IOM) Ltd. is not a shell company and was formed to run a leasing business and hire the aircraft on a long-term basis at a commercial rate. They said the company made all necessary disclosures to Isle of Man officials, who approved the approach.

The lawyers said that reducing taxes was not the motive for the arrangements, but even if it had been, it is lawful to lease, rather than buy, to reduce the VAT.

They added that it was not correct that Hamilton had paid no VAT on any of the arrangements.

In a separate statement, Ernst & Young said commercial leasing arrangements such as those used by Hamilton constitute entirely legitimate commercial practice. The accounting firm said that as a commercial business, the import company is entitled to reclaim the VAT incurred on its business asset against the VAT which it is due to pay on the import of the aircraft into the European Union if the aircraft is being used wholly or predominantly for business purposes by the end user.

It said the relevant consideration for such arrangements is where the aircraft flies (not where the aircraft is bought, leased to or leased from). Ernst & Young said it advises clients they should consider whether VAT needs to be charged for all flights within EU airspace and added that it is not able or required to monitor a client’s use of an aircraft on a day to day basis following registration.

“All our advice, whether in planning or compliance, is based on our knowledge of tax law and providing transparency to tax authorities,” Ernst & Young said in the statement.

It could not be learned whether any Hamilton entities paid VAT on trips within the EU.

EU rules forbid VAT refunds for personal jet purchases and imports. Hamilton, however, received a refund even though he had planned to use the plane for non-business purposes one-third of the time, according to draft leases in the Appleby files. And his social media feeds and website often flaunt his private use of the plane. One video, uploaded to Hamilton’s YouTube account, shows him, his dog Coco, and some friends aboard the plane, followed by scenes of him cavorting on four-wheeled dirt bikes in Colorado and dancing and drinking at a 2015 festival in Barbados.

The jet was used primarily for business purposes, Hamilton’s lawyers said, adding that on the few occasions that it was used for private purposes, a proper hire charge was invoiced and paid.

An unsigned statement to the Guardian on behalf of the Isle of Man government, said the government is committed to enforcing tax rules. “Whilst it is clear that no jurisdiction in the world could ever guarantee that instances of evasion, abusive tax avoidance and error do not occur on an individual basis, the Isle of Man is committed to ensuring that it is not used by those seeking to evade taxes or to abusively avoid taxes,” the statement said.

The statement added that in October 2016 the government began “to review the accuracy and efficacy of the declarations being made to it” by the roughly 270 aircraft ownership arrangements there.

Such arrangements aren’t so unusual among the very rich.

The United Arab Emirates – one of the world’s wealthiest countries – sought to avoid the VAT with help from Appleby. In 2012, the authoritarian Persian Gulf monarchy bought two Bombardier Global 6000s for $120 million and committed to paying $98 million more to convert them into high-tech spy planes.

Because it’s a state, the UAE wasn’t eligible to register an aircraft in the Isle of Man. Appleby and Washington-based Akin Gump lent a hand. Appleby created a shell company called Advanced Integrated Systems (IOM) Ltd. that could register the aircraft on behalf of the UAE.

Appleby also received assurance from the island’s customs officials that the planes wouldn’t be taxed. Akin Gump helped arrange Appleby’s registration of the plane, according to emails sent from its lawyers to Appleby. Neither Akin Gump nor the UAE returned requests for comment.

Not all such maneuvers, in the Isle of Man or elsewhere, are particularly complicated.

When Mohammed bin Salman, now crown prince of Saudi Arabia, bought the mega-yacht Serene from Russian vodka billionaire Yuri Shefler for $456 million, it was docked in the Port of La Ciotat, in the south of France. (The hefty price bought 30,000 square feet of living space, including an underwater viewing room, a climbing wall, a cinema and an indoor seawater pool, as well as space for 52 crew members. The yacht also has a helicopter hangar, at least five onboard boats and a submarine garage.)

Advisers proposed motoring the 439-foot yacht to international waters in the western Mediterranean and closing the sale there, according to documents sent from the American law firm Baker McKenzie to Appleby in 2015.

It couldn’t be learned if the plan was ever carried out. It’s unclear if any VAT was paid. A spokeswoman for the Saudi government declined to comment, as did Baker McKenzie.

Martinez, of Oxfam, said moving yachts is a common tax-avoidance strategy. “If you’re in international waters, no country can claim it,” she said. “It’s stateless income.” Whether the sale closed in international waters and whether the location was part of a tax-avoidance strategy could not be learned.

American flyers

The lucrative business of working around ownership problems for aircraft and yachts has also attracted U.S. financial institutions. Appleby worked at least nine times total with Wells Fargo and Bank of Utah to create trust structures enabling noncitizens to register jets in the United States.

The Bank of Utah served as a trustee on one such deal involving natural-gas oligarch Leonid Mikhelson, deemed by Forbes the richest man in Russia, with a fortune estimated at $17 billion. Appleby made arrangements that included creating an Isle of Man branch of Mikhelson’s Panama company, Golden Star Aviation Ltd., which leased a Gulfstream G650 from a Cayman Islands company to also avoid VAT in Europe on the $60 million plane. (Golden Star Aviation’s president is listed as James Ackroyd-Cooper, a personal trainer in Suffolk, England.) The arrangement saved Mikhelson up to $12 million, according to Isle of Man documents approving the exemption from the 20 percent tax. Using the Bank of Utah as trustee also gave Mikhelson access to the U.S. jet registry, which would likely increase the plane’s resale value.

“Mr. Mikhelson acts strictly within the boundaries of the law and in compliance with applicable legislation at all times,” a spokesperson said. “He does not deem it necessary to provide any comments on his personal property activities.”

Gabriel Zucman, an assistant professor of economics at the University of California, Berkeley, and the author of “The Hidden Wealth of Nations,” said tougher information-sharing requirements for the offshore industry are required to stop the wealthy from avoiding taxes. “This confirms that the offshore system benefits a tiny elite who uses it to avoid and sometimes evade billions of dollars in taxes,” he said. “Unless we are willing to accept ever rising inequality, this situation is unsustainable.”

Appleby cut its ties to Mikhelson after U.S. authorities retaliated against Russia’s 2014 invasion of Crimea by blacklisting his natural-gas company, Novatek, along with other businesses and people tied to Putin.

This confirms that the offshore system benefits a tiny elite who uses it to avoid and sometimes evade billions of dollars in taxes. Gabriel Zucman

An Appleby official wrote that, “with regret,” he had to advise Mikhelson’s representatives of the law firm’s decision to end relationships that were directly or indirectly connected to entities or people on the U.S. sanctions list. Appleby helped transfer Mikhelson’s arrangements to another Isle of Man firm.

The Bank of Utah applied to renew Mikhelson’s plane’s registration with the Federal Aviation Administration in 2016, two years after his company was sanctioned, according to FAA records.

In an interview with an ICIJ partner, The New York Times, Bank of Utah trust officer Joe Croasmun said the bank took seriously its obligations to know its customers and to be on guard against suspicious activities. When asked about the bank’s relationship with Mikhelson, Croasmun went to look in the bank’s files. When he returned, he said that the bank was indeed trustee for Golden Star Aviation but that he couldn’t find any mention of the Russian businessman.

“His name is not in there,” he said.

In a later statement, Croasmun said, “We view our risk management processes to be a living and breathing methodology, always growing to implement best practices and enhancing our country risk assessment as the world changes. We are currently doing a review of all countries we have designated as ‘higher risk’ – including transactions involving Russia.”

Contributors to this story also included:  Tim Robinson and Mike McIntire.

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Mercedes suffer blow in search for Lewis Hamilton replacement as former Red Bull star signs new F1 contract

Another seat for the 2025 f1 season has been confirmed..

Tom Jenkins

Mercedes have faced another blow in their quest to fill Sir Lewis Hamilton's shoes, as a potential replacement has committed his future to a rival team.

Hamilton revealed he would be leaving the German team for Ferrari in early February in one of the most shocking transfers in Formula One history.

Ferrari are also reportedly interested in the services of Red Bull's Chief Engineer Adrian Newey, who announced he would be leaving the world champions from 2025.

Mercedes have now been put in the awkward position of replacing the greatest driver of all time on relatively short notice, when almost every other team is also on the search for drivers next year due to the current contract situations.

Until Wednesday there were 12 seats still available on the grid for next season, but that has now been reduced to 11 following the latest driver contract announcement.

Williams Racing have now confirmed their first driver for next season with Alex Albon extending his stay at the British team until at least 2026.

A statement from the team read: "We can today announce that Alex Albon has committed his long-term future to Williams Racing. The Thai driver has signed a multi-year contract extension which takes the partnership into the new era of Formula 1 regulations and demonstrates a shared belief in the upward trajectory of the team."

Albon has now earned his reputation as one of the more elite drivers on the grid following his mixed spell partnering Max Verstappen at Red Bull during his early career.

The 28-year-old has been excellent at Williams since returning to the sport in 2022 and was rightly one of the drivers being linked to a move to Mercedes who are engine partners to Williams.

Albon also has an extremely positive relationship with current Merc and former Williams driver George Russell who played a major role in Williams originally signing Albon to replace him in 2022.

The Thai driver's contract is a blow to Mercedes who now lose another potential Hamilton replacement following Fernando Alonso's commitment to Aston Martin.

Following signing the deal, Albon stated: “It has been a difficult start to the year but since joining Williams we have made significant progress together and I have seen the huge changes happening behind the scenes to take us back to the front of the grid.

“This is a long-term project that I really believe in and want to play a key role in which is why I have signed a multi-year contract.

“The journey will take time but I am confident we are building the right team to move forward and achieve great things in the years to come."

Other drivers rumoured to be on Mercedes's radar include Carlos Sainz as well as their 17-year-old academy driver Kimi Antonelli who is currently in his rookie F2 season.

Topics:  Mercedes , Lewis Hamilton

Tom Jenkins is a Social Editor and Journalist for SPORTBible. Specialises in Football and F1 but has experience covering a variety of sports such as MMA, Boxing and Cricket. Suffers weekly as an Evertonian.

@ tomjenkns

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• F1 fans are convinced Lewis Hamilton has 'confirmed' Adrian Newey's next move ahead of Red Bull exit
• Red Bull 'offer deal' to Sergio Perez successor as Mercedes set to lose another Lewis Hamilton replacement
• F1 star who suffered 'horror cash' still owed Mercedes test amid search for Lewis Hamilton replacement
• Lewis Hamilton 'set to join Ferrari' as F1 legend's secret Mercedes contract clause revealed

IWC Watches and Lewis Hamilton

Eternity on your wrist. @LewisHamilton and The Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar (Ref. IW503605). #IWCON #IWCPilot #LewisHamilton pic.twitter.com/aqZzEzGvL1 — IWC Watches (@IWC) June 6, 2021

Ride in style with the new Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Edition "Lewis Hamilton"(Ref. IW503002). #IWCPilot #IWCRacing pic.twitter.com/8vWdgxAUPj — IWC Watches (@IWC) November 30, 2019

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What a night welcoming Lewis Hamilton and James Marsden in our New York boutique sharing their passion for cars and watches. #IWCRacing #IWCWatches pic.twitter.com/TxUZOinuxs — IWC Watches (@IWC) October 19, 2018

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Lewis Hamilton takes yacht trip with 20-year-old tennis ace and Mexican actress days after partying with Shakira

• Etienne Fermie
• Published : 12:01, 15 Jul 2023
• Updated : 12:53, 15 Jul 2023

LEWIS HAMILTON has been enjoying some downtime in Ibiza after coming third at last weekend's British Grand Prix.

The 38-year-old grabbed a place on the podium at Silverstone, before partying into the night with pop superstar Shakira .

Having flown over to watch Sir Lewis at the British GP, Shakira joined him at celeb haunt Tape London - with the pair chatting together before she left at around 3:30am.

With Formula 1 stars having this weekend off, Hamilton has headed to Ibiza for some relaxation.

The Mercedes star has been hanging out on a yacht in the sunshine, and was joined by some other famous faces.

Hamilton was pictured alongside 20-year-old Jenny Stray Spetalen, daughter of Norwegian tycoon Oystein Stray Spetalen.

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Also onboard were Mexican actress Eiza Gonzalez, Romeo + Juliet director Baz Luhrmann and his wife Catherine Martin.

Jenny has previously tried her hand at tennis.

She competed in singles at three tournaments in Norway between 2016 and 2019 - but won just two games across three matches.

Gonzalez, 33, has starred in a number of films and TV series - and is set to appear in Guy Ritchie's The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare alongside Henry Cavill next year.

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With Hamilton enjoying himself in Ibiza, Shakira headed to yesterday's Wimbledon men's semi-finals.

The 46-year-old was in attendance on Centre Court as Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz booked their places in Sunday's final.

Also in attendance at Wimbledon this week has been Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler.

Shakira is rumoured to be dating the 33-year-old, with the duo heading out in Mayfair together earlier this week.

Hamilton is set to return to action next week at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

The seven-time world champion will attempt to grab his first win since 2021, although Max Verstappen will be tough to stop in his far superior Red Bull.

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F1 News: Lewis Hamilton Clarifies Mercedes Exit Reasons - 'I'm Not Leaving Because I'm Unhappy'

Alex harrington | may 11, 2024.

Lewis Hamilton , the 7-time Formula One world champion, has clarified that his impending departure from Mercedes is not due to any unhappiness or relational discord within the team. Instead, he's simply chasing his next win.

Lewis Hamilton has confirmed his decision to leave Mercedes at the end of the season. However, the British race car driver has been quick to dispel any rumors about his reasons for leaving, stating it's not borne out of dissatisfaction with the team.

"For me, this whole journey has been massively emotional," Hamilton revealed, expressing his obvious emotional tie to the Brackley squad. "Just because I have so much love for this team."

Hamilton's time at Mercedes has indeed been storied, yielding six of his seven World Championships. Nonetheless, the shadow of the controversial 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has loomed large, with the team struggling to retain its competitive edge against rivals, particularly Red Bull. Presently, Hamilton finds himself 9th in the championship standings, a distant 111 points behind leader Max Verstappen and 10 points behind his teammate who sits P7.

Despite these challenges, Hamilton reassured that his exit was a decision rooted in seeking a new environment rather than any negativity at Mercedes.

"I'm not leaving because I'm unhappy there. I'm not leaving because of relationship issues," he stated unequivocally. "They've been with me through thick and thin. So, it's definitely a strange transition at the moment.

"We exist to win. And when you're not winning, your perspective has to shift. And it's then about chasing and it's about improvement. It's about coming together," he explained.

Hamilton's inherent competitiveness and leadership have spurred him to rally his teammates. "How can we make improvements? How can we get back to where we want to be? And rallying everyone up. I actually really enjoy that experience.

"But, three years in? I've had enough of this! Let's get back to where we belong."

As his tenure at Mercedes draws to a close, Hamilton looks ahead to his journey with Ferrari, where he hopes to don the colors of F1's most historically successful team into his 40s alongside Monegasque Charles Leclerc.

ALEX HARRINGTON

Alex is the editor-in-chief of F1 editorial. He fell in love with F1 at the young age of 7 after hearing the scream of naturally aspirated V10s echo through his grandparents' lounge. That year he watched as Michael Schumacher took home his fifth championship win with Ferrari, and has been unable to look away since. 

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Lewis Hamilton on NYC stunt with WhatsApp, chasing another F1 championship in last season with Mercedes

By Gayle King , Analisa Novak

Updated on: May 6, 2024 / 3:01 PM EDT / CBS News

Formula One champion driver  Lewis Hamilton  captivated audiences last week with a high-speed stunt up  New York City's Fifth Avenue , sponsored by Mercedes and WhatsApp. 

The British racing icon, known for tying the record with seven World Drivers' Championship titles and holding the most wins in  Formula One  history, sat down  exclusively with "CBS Mornings" co-host Gayle King  to discuss the thrill of the stunt. He told King the ride outside the iconic Empire State Building was a "huge deal" and he carefully prepared for the show.

"That stuff's, like, easy for me. It's fun. I never get to have that fun on the track, 'cause you're so serious and you have a set goal. This one was just fun," he said of the jaw-dropping spectacle, which included donuts.

The Mercedes F1 Team and WhatsApp's recent New York City takeover event also included a lighting ceremony at the Empire State Building and the debut of a new emoji symbolizing Hamilton's race car. 

With WhatsApp's recent surge in global daily users, now surpassing  two billion , the event celebrated the app's growing influence. It's a tool Hamilton says is key to his personal and professional communication. Hamilton uses the messaging app to plot different setups and strategies with his team of engineers on race weekends.

As Formula One's popularity in the U.S. grows, Hamilton is marking a significant change in his career. He recently announced his upcoming departure from Mercedes, making this season his last with the team that has supported him since he was 13.

"For me, this whole journey has been massively emotional. Just because I have so much love for this team. I'm not leaving because I'm unhappy there. I'm not leaving because of relationship issues," explained Hamilton, adding that he loves the brand. "They've been with me through thick and thin. So, it's definitely a strange transition at the moment."

The racing champion said he's faced some tough challenges over the past few seasons but that hasn't stopped him from remaining competitive.

"We exist to win. And when you're not winning, your perspective has to shift. And it's just then about chasing and it's about improvement. It's about coming together. How can we make improvements? How can we get back to where we want to be? And rallying everyone up. I actually really enjoy that experience," Hamilton said. 

Hamilton often shares motivational messages with young fans, encouraging them to "dream the impossible."

"What was your impossible dream?" King asked Hamilton about his own goals.

"Getting to Formula 1. Winning a world championship," Hamilton responded. "Having a platform to connect with people in a positive way. I never thought that I would be a part of creating more diversity within the sport, within the industry, within companies that I work with. I think you dream as big as you can. And you can have as many dreams as you want, and chase 'em all."

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Gayle King is co-host of "CBS Mornings."

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Lewis Hamilton: New Mercedes F1 contract ‘almost there,’ no contact with Ferrari

Lewis Hamilton’s negotiations with Mercedes over a new Formula One contract beyond the end of this year are “almost there,” he said Thursday, while denying links with a move to Ferrari. Here’s what you need to know:

• Hamilton, a seven-time F1 world champion , is out of contract with Mercedes at the end of the current season.
• Last week, reports emerged claiming Ferrari was considering an offer to sign Hamilton for the 2024 season.
• Hamilton shut down the reports Thursday, saying talks with Mercedes were nearing their conclusion and that there had been no contact with Ferrari.

What Hamilton said

“Naturally when you’re in the contract negotiations, there’s always going to be speculation,” said Hamilton. “I think ultimately, unless you hear from me, then that’s what it is.

“My team are having discussions with the team in the background. We’re almost there.”

Asked if Ferrari had been in contact, Hamilton replied: “No.”

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F1 summer report cards: Full marks for Red Bull, satisfactory for Ferrari and one ‘F’

Since the last race in Miami at the start of the month, reports emerged in both the UK and Italy linking Hamilton to Ferrari for 2024 with a potential contract worth close to $50 million per season.

The future of F1’s most successful and globally known driver is always going to be a hot topic, particularly in the final year of his current deal. It’s not new territory for Hamilton.

Since joining Mercedes in 2013, Hamilton has won six of his seven world titles and surpassed 100 race wins, making him the only driver in triple-figures in F1 history.

Whereas previous negotiation periods have coincided with Hamilton’s successful periods, Mercedes is in a very different position now. The car design last season saw it struggle to compete with Red Bull and Ferrari on a regular basis, resigning Hamilton to the first winless season of his F1 career. It also ended Mercedes’ streak of eight consecutive constructors’ championships dating back to 2014.

A series of car upgrades will debut in Monaco this weekend as the team looks to turn its fortunes around and find more performance, and Hamilton said the current level of performance at Mercedes had no bearing on negotiations.

In previous years, Hamilton has handled contract renewals himself, including the most recent agreement signed in 2021 to cover 2022 and 2023. But negotiations are now being led by his management team.

“It’s a much better position than I was in before,” said Hamilton. “I remember I used to do my negotiations on my own and it was very stressful, so I don’t have to do that anymore.”

Hamilton has always maintained in recent months he is only focused on staying with Mercedes. In Australia at the start of April, he said he wanted his relationship with Mercedes to last well beyond his F1 career and go to his “last days,” similar to 1950s racing icon Stirling Moss.

F1 driver power rankings, Miami edition: Verstappen takes back the narrative

Ferrari denies Hamilton approach

The current Ferrari drivers, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, are both under contract for next year, yet it did not stop the speculation emerging about a potential move for Hamilton.

Prior to Hamilton’s appearance in the news conference where he shut down the speculation, Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur also denied there had been any talks over a shock move.

“At this stage of the season, you will have each week a different story (about the drivers),” said Vasseur. “We are not sending an offer to Lewis Hamilton. We didn’t do it. We didn’t have discussions.”

Leclerc laughed off any suggestion he could partner Hamilton in the future, saying he only wants a fast teammate and that Sainz is “extremely fast.”

Asked if he would welcome racing next to Hamilton at Ferrari, Leclerc replied: “If I say yes, I imagine it being the title on every newspaper!

“But Lewis is such an incredible driver, and has achieved so much in the sport. So I think anybody on the grid would love to have Lewis as a teammate, as everybody would learn a lot from him.

“But again, I’m happy where I am, and with Carlos, it’s a great relationship too.”

Sainz added that he felt no need to talk to Ferrari about the reports, because “at this time of the year, there are always these kind of rumors.”

Required reading

• Lewis Hamilton: ‘No hold up’ with new Mercedes Formula One contract
• Revisiting F1 season predictions, Monaco GP storylines
• Sign up for Prime Tire,  The Athletic ’s F1 newsletter

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Luke Smith is a Senior Writer covering Formula 1 for The Athletic. Luke has spent 10 years reporting on Formula 1 for outlets including Autosport, The New York Times and NBC Sports, and is also a published author. He is a graduate of University College London. Follow Luke on Twitter @ LukeSmithF1

Lewis Hamilton warned about ‘different way of racing’ as new Mercedes upgrades confirmed – F1 news round-up

As we build up to the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, more F1 news is filtering through as the next round of the season approaches at Imola.

The drivers will have to drive more precisely around the circuit this year with run-off at Piratella, Acque Minerali and Variante Alta all removed for extra gravel traps in the run-up to the race, but in the here and now, let’s catch up with the pick of Tuesday’s F1 news headlines.

Jenson Button warns Lewis Hamilton over ‘different way of racing’ at Ferrari

When asked about how his former team-mate might adapt to life at Ferrari next season, Jenson Button believes that the switch to everything being all about the Scuderia will be an adjustment for Lewis Hamilton – and he’s looking forward to seeing how it turns out.

“In every other team, you can kind of say, ‘Yeah, the driver is out for himself’. And the team obviously. But in Ferrari, everyone works for Ferrari. It’s all about Ferrari winning the world championships,” Button told the Sky F1 podcast.

“It’s a different way of racing, definitely, for someone like Lewis, who is such a star in this sport. Suddenly, he’s kind of working for Ferrari to win the championship.

“So I look forward to seeing the dynamic there and that’s going to be very exciting next year.”

Read more: Lewis Hamilton warned over unique Ferrari driver expectation by former team-mate

Mercedes confirm new batch of upgrades coming to Imola

In the here and now, Mercedes are looking to do all they can to bring the W15 to the front of the pack if they can – and they confirmed on Tuesday that upgrades would be coming with them to Imola.

Toto Wolff explained that, following a minor update in Miami last time out, further upgrades would be coming with them to Italy, but it might take time for the full impact of their development plan to be felt.

“It will be several races before we see this bear fruit, but everyone is working hard to bring them as soon as is possible,” he said of the team’s development plan.

“In the meantime, we will be looking to maximise the package we have. We are bringing some more updates to Imola and hopefully they push us in the right direction.”

Read more: Toto Wolff confirms Imola GP upgrades as Mercedes find ‘clear path forward’ with W15

Exclusive: Mario Andretti on where Carlos Sainz should end up next

Sticking with the Mercedes theme, motorsport legend Mario Andretti believes the Silver Arrows are where Carlos Sainz should stake his claim for a drive next season.

Having been moved aside for Hamilton at Ferrari next year and with his own stock at a personal high, Sainz is taking stock of where to go next – and Andretti thinks Mercedes would be the right move for him.

Speaking exclusively to PlanetF1.com, Andretti said of why Mercedes would be his pick for the Spaniard: “They’re due to be at the top again, they’re nibbling right there.

“That’s one team that you know well it will always be there, as long as they’re around.

“It’s something that’s sustainable if you will, so that’s the way I’m looking at it from here.”

Read more: Mario Andretti reveals which team Carlos Sainz should sign with for F1 2025

Nico Hulkenberg was a wanted man before penning Sauber deal

Before signing his contract to join Sauber next season, which will cross over into Audi in 2026, Nico Hulkenberg revealed that Haas were doing all they could to convince him to stay.

He has performed excellently since joining the American team, to a degree that prompted Audi to sign the German as the homegrown driver they wanted in their team upon their arrival in Formula 1.

“He fought, he gave everything,” he said of Haas team boss Ayao Komatsu.

“The decision wasn’t a no-brainer for me. I’ve already given it some thought.

“Haas is the team that made my comeback possible. But at the end of the day, the better sporting prospect for me personally is simply with Audi.”

Read more:  Nico Hulkenberg on second team that ‘gave everything’ for his signature in F1 2025 season

Charles Leclerc warned of pitfalls of Lewis Hamilton partnership

With a seven-time World Champion coming into the team next season, Charles Leclerc has been warned by former McLaren mechanic Marc Priestley to not allow Hamilton to rule the roost as soon as he arrives.

“Charles Leclerc can’t afford to let Lewis Hamilton come in and be the main man at Ferrari,” the former McLaren mechanic told OLBG . “Leclerc is reasonably experienced now, he has a few years under his belt and is not a rookie.

“If a driver accepts they’re going to be the second driver of the team, you sign your own death warrant and lose performance from that.”

Read more: ‘Don’t sign your own death warrant’ – Charles Leclerc warned ahead of Lewis Hamilton link-up