Not even six months into his formula one race career, an international publishing house has paid at least (US) $2 million for the rights to rookie championship leader Lewis Hamilton’s life story so far.
HarperCollins, owned by media mogul Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation, has reportedly paid the 22-year-old Briton a seven-figure advance in British Pounds and will issue ‘Lewis Hamilton: My Story’ in early November.
“We have paid a substantial sum but are very confident that the Lewis Hamilton book will sell extremely well,” HarperCollins’ senior publicity director Jane Beaton told the Daily Mail.
She added: “Lewis has had an unbelievable year.”
After 12 grands prix in his rookie season for McLaren this year, Hamilton has already recorded three wins, seven other podium finishes, four pole positions, and leads his double world champion teammate Fernando Alonso in the drivers’ championship by five points.
This week’s Italian grand prix marks a year since he wrapped up the GP2 championship, also as a rookie.
“Hopefully this year I will have just as good a race and great memories for the future,” he said ahead of Sunday’s event at Monza.
