Lewis Hamilton has vowed to buy new houses for his divorced parents with the proceeds of his new multi-million dollar five-year McLaren deal.
The British team announced last Friday that 23-year-old Hamilton’s contract includes “improved financial terms”, after he made just $700,000 plus points bonuses en route to second place in the drivers’ championship in 2007.
Media reports estimate that the Briton will now earn an average of more than $27m per season until at least 2012.
Asked by the German newspaper Bild am Sonntag what he plans to do with his newfound fortune, Hamilton answered: “I do not need much to be happy.
“Mercedes gives me a (road) car, I get watches and clothes from my sponsors. The only thing I really need to buy is food!”
He rejected suggestions that he may now splash out on girls and throwing parties.
“Absolutely not,” Hamilton answered. “I am focused on fulfilling my dream to become world champion.
“I would like to buy a house each for my father and my mother. They have done everything for me, and now I can finally start to give something back to them.”
Hamilton also denied that his father Anthony was able to increase his annual retainer so drastically because of talks with rival F1 teams.
“No, there have been no talks with anyone except my bosses,” he insisted. “My father has worked really hard on this, and I have worked hard in the car.
“McLaren is where I want to be. This is where I feel at home,” Hamilton said.
