[f1x2] Lewis Hamilton a career in MUSIC after F1?

  Lewis Hamilton made it five consecutive wins with victory at US Grand Prix
  Mercedes driver has ended his management relationship with Simon Fuller
  Brit says he has 'different plans and aspirations' when he finishes racing



Could Hamilton emulate girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger by starting a music career?
Dig the bling or cringe at every flashing jewel, there is no mistaking Lewis Hamilton as the transcendent superstar of Formula One.

Now, even as he edges towards his second world title, he is thinking about life and fame beyond the track’s narrow confines.

Having just separated from his manager Simon Fuller — the mogul behind the Spice Girls and one-time manager to David Beckham — Hamilton has dropped his clearest hint a career in the music industry may await him.


Hip Hop artist NAS w/ Lewis Hamilton

‘A lot of drivers come back in commentary, but I have different plans and aspirations,’ he said after winning Sunday’s US Grand Prix to extend his championship lead to 24 points. ‘It’s about positioning myself so when I stop I have something to continue with.

‘There’s going to be an undeniable urge to get back in the car, because I’ve been racing since I was eight.



‘At some stage, when I retire, I’ll have something that I’m also really interested in that is a substitute for racing. So that’s something I want to start working towards.’

Hamilton, 29, counts a number of rap stars as friends, sometimes bringing them to races and even putting them up in his own suite. And one of Hamilton’s inner circle told me music was ‘very much on his agenda at some point’.

But while he plots his next life, he must also negotiate the future of his Formula One career. His contract at Mercedes runs out next year and his future is uncertain. But he said: ‘I don’t have any plans with that just yet. I’m quite comfortable doing it myself.

‘Nico Rosberg did his himself, Sebastian Vettel did his himself, there’s no reason I couldn’t. I hope to see a long future with this team.’



It may be that Hamilton can engage a Formula One expert as a consultant to help him with his contract, which will still be his bread and butter after all, and affiliate himself to a music-industry expert to set up his own record label. He also has a tight, long-standing group, including a lawyer, who often call themselves ‘Team Hamilton’, who are sure to help.


But one thing he has ruled out is going back into a management-client relationship with his father Anthony. ‘Nope,’ he said when asked about it. ‘Me and my dad have a great relationship, he’s aware of where I am, and proud.

‘I’ve also got a great relationship with Simon. He’s a dear friend. That will always be the case.’

So is this upheaval a distraction as he looks to win the title going into the final two races of the season, in Brazil and Abu Dhabi — or ‘Abu Double’ as it has been called because points there count double? There are still 75 points available, meaning it will go down to the final race.

‘There are no issues, no distractions,’ said Hamilton. ‘If anyone wants to get in touch with me, they go through my assistant.’