This year, Lewis Hamilton made the spectacular switch to Ferrari. After twelve seasons of loyal service at Mercedes, the seven-time world champion decided to join the Italian team. While sporting successes have so far been elusive, Hamilton has proven to be of great commercial value to the Scuderia, as calculated by Italian media this week. The British star is said to have significantly boosted the coffers in Maranello in his first half-season.
In an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, former Ferrari driver Arturo Merzario referred to Hamilton’s arrival as a ‘commercial stunt’. The same sports newspaper now calculates that Merzario might be right. The figures from the first half of the season show that Hamilton is making the cash register ring at Ferrari. Despite the lack of successes on the track, his arrival is said to have already generated an additional profit of around 70 million euros.
Laughing all the way to the bank
In the first half of 2025, Ferrari as a company posted a net profit of 837 million euros, a 9% increase compared to the previous year. The brand does not specify how much the Formula 1 team generates – the racing activities fall under the broader category of sponsorship, commercial contracts, and branding. However, the growth speaks for itself; between January and June, revenue in this segment increased from 313 to 396 million euros, partly thanks to new sponsorship deals and a higher contribution from the Formula 1 prize money.
This upward trend has been visible for some time. Under parent company Liberty Media, revenues from Formula 1 have grown significantly, meaning teams like Ferrari are receiving more and more money from the prize pool. In addition, Ferrari benefits from favorable commercial agreements with FOM, as the longest-standing team in the sport.
Back to Hamilton. La Gazzetta calculated that his arrival increases Ferrari’s annual revenue by approximately 50 million euros. For instance, a lucrative deal was struck with title sponsor HP in April 2024, shortly after the transfer announcement. Combined with other factors, Hamilton is said to be responsible for a total revenue growth of around 70 million euros. There may be debate over his salary at the Scuderia, but it’s likely that Ferrari is achieving an excellent return on this investment – even if sporting success remains elusive for now.
