Lewis Hamilton Close To Sponsorship Deals With Reebok, Pepsi

Hamilton Nearing Personal Sponsorship Deal With Reebok

F1 driver Lewis Hamilton is "about to sign a personal sponsorship deal with Reebok"  that is thought to be worth US$19.4M over a minimum of three years, and he also is "in negotiations with Pepsi on a separate sponsorship deal that could be worth the same as the Reebok contract, or substantially more," according to Edward Gorman of the LONDON TIMES. Hamilton, who over the next five years will earn US$145.7M in basic salary from McLaren Mercedes, will have combined earnings that "take him just past" Galaxy MF David Beckham, whose salary and endorsement deals are "estimated to be a little more than [US$31.1M] a year." The Reebok deal makes Hamilton one of the company's "global brand ambassadors," along with Barcelona FC F Thierry Henry, Chelsea F Andriy Shevchenko and boxer Amir Khan. As part of the deal, Hamilton will be expected to "fulfil appearance commitments and other duties, in addition to the work he undertakes on behalf of McLaren" (LONDON TIMES, 5/14).