Formula 1 isn’t just about speed, it’s also a high-stakes realm of passion, legacy, and—drum roll, please—trading cards. And who better to accelerate into this world than the titan himself, Lewis Hamilton. As Hamilton debuts his Ferrari red, leaving behind his 12-year tenure with Mercedes, he treads new circuits, both on the track and off it, diving headfirst into an exciting new collaboration with Fanatics Collectibles.
Hamilton has always known how to make a statement, and this move is no exception. The seven-time F1 champion has teamed up with Fanatics Collectibles to launch a line of officially licensed memorabilia and trading cards under an exclusive autograph agreement with Topps. Fanatics acquired Topps not long ago, positioning themselves as a key player in the ever-evolving trading card industry—a hobby that’s morphed from children’s pastimes to high-value collector treasures.
Taking this partnership for a spin, Hamilton’s memorabilia will feature authenticated signatures authored by the man himself, and yes, brace yourselves, dear collectors, for genuine race-worn gear included in the Topps-produced releases. This isn’t just any ordinary engagement though; it puts Hamilton in the driver’s seat with creative input on card designs, and a portion of the proceeds will fuel philanthropic causes he champions.
Pomp and personality meet perfectly in the then-unveiled one-of-one Topps Chrome F1 card featuring Hamilton suited up in Ferrari gear, inscribed with the ever-rousing rally cry, “Forza Ferrari”. With only five red-parallel copies in existence, collectors around the globe are already revving their engines in pursuit.
Trading cards powering through F1 circuits isn’t a crash course; Topps secured F1’s trading card and sticker license in 2020. The timing was perfect, coinciding with the exploding popularity of Netflix’s Drive to Survive which featured Hamilton prominently, and appealed to a new, pandemic-era card frenzy. The market has witnessed staggering figures; eight Topps F1 cards have surpassed the $100,000 mark at auction. Notably, Hamilton’s one-off 2020 Chrome Superfractor smashed over a million dollars in December 2024, with other variants also seeing eye-watering prices, adding yet another chapter to his unfolding legacy.
As the dust settled on the Regent Street launch, Hamilton shared a rather intimate reflection on his collecting journey with The Athletic. With visible nostalgia, he reminisced about his childhood as a proud owner of Premier League stickers. “As a kid, I’d spend every spare penny I had on them,” he mused, likely casting his mind back to simpler times when he traded packs with friends, blissfully unaware of the grandeur that awaited him. Never in his wildest dreams would he have envisioned his collectibles supporting causes close to his heart.
The event saw Hamilton light up as warmly as the Regent Street lights, conversing with fans who’ve journeyed miles to share a moment with their idol. “I met a fan who had my one-of-one cards,” he chuckled, “Bonding over our love for F1 and Arsenal was surreal. It’s those connections that remind me of the bigger picture.”
Besides accolades on the track, Hamilton’s life is adorned with cherished mementos—his first yellow go-kart helmet spray-painted by his dad at a DIY store, and the race suit from his debut competition, fittingly marking the origins of his extraordinary voyage.
Hamilton’s hobbies also span to refined tastes; he collects both art and vintage automobiles. Yet, there’s a delightful simplicity to his most relaxing moments: quiet evenings with a glass of wine and canvases by emerging Black and African artists. Art is his quiet escape, a counterbalance to the adrenaline-charged racing circuit.
Even his autograph requests range from the conventional to the uncanny. Case in point: the time he signed tiny Japanese boxer shorts—across the back, as requested, leaving Hamilton in a rare moment of bemusement. “Bizarre,” he called it, but well aware of the warmth it brought to its new owner’s heart.
Taking time to dish out tips to fellow enthusiasts, Hamilton’s picks for future card investments are as anyone would expect—raring to back talents like Kimi Antonelli, Oliver Bearman, and notably, Isack Hadjar, whom he deems a climber to keep an eye on.
Hamilton’s foray into collectibles represents more than the intersection of sport and memorabilia; it solidifies his enduring impact within and beyond the F1 community. This is a driver who knows his worth, both in history and in the cornerstones of charity.