Auto Racing Superstar Sir Lewis Hamilton Joins Denver Broncos Ownership Group
British Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton joined a slate of investors who are buying ownership of the NFL’s Denver Broncos franchise, ESPN reported.
The group, led by Walmart heir Rob Walton and former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, announced on Tuesday (Aug. 2) that Hamilton will have an ownership stake. They expect to finalize the purchase on Aug. 9.
“We’re delighted to welcome seven-time Formula One World Champion Sir Lewis Hamilton to our ownership group,” Walton said in a statement. “He is a champion competitor who knows what it takes to lead a winning team.”
As the first Black Formula One driver, Hamilton holds the record for the most wins and has been an outspoken critic of the sport’s lack of diversity. In 2021, Britain’s Prince Charles knighted Hamilton during a ceremony at Windsor Castle.
“Excited to join an incredible group of owners and become a part of the @Broncos story!!” the 37-year-old driver captioned a photo of his dog Roscoe dressed in the team’s color.
The Washington Post reported that the Walton-led group agreed to purchase the franchise for a record $4.65 billion in June. The NFL scheduled a vote among the team owners to complete the deal.
Billionaire Robert F. Smith was among the prospective owners who sought to purchase the Broncos. Smith would have made history as the first Black majority owner of an NFL franchise if he won the bidding war.
