LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) – Seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton has joined the ownership group of the NFL’s Denver Broncos, the team announced Tuesday.
The Broncos entered into a sale agreement with the Walton-Penner family in June pending ownership approval of the deal, which is expected to come next Tuesday.
“Excited to join an incredible group of owners and become a part of the @Broncos story!!” Hamilton tweeted. “Honoured to work with a world class team and serve as an example of the value of more diverse leadership across all sports.”
The 37-year-old Englishman posted a photo of his dog wearing a Broncos’ scarf and shirt and added, “Roscoe already thinks he made the team”.
Wal-Mart store heir Rob Walton, his daughter Carrie Penner and son-in-law Greg Penner paid $4.65 billion, the largest sale price for any North American sports team, to purchase the Broncos.
Former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was added to the ownership group last month and Hamilton, a record 103-time F1 race winner, is the latest high-profile investor.
“We’re delighted to welcome seven-time Formula One world champion Sir Lewis Hamilton to our ownership group,” Walton said in a statement.
“He’s a champion competitor who knows what it takes to lead a winning team and a fierce advocate for global equality, including in his own sport.
“With over 100 race wins, Lewis is considered the most successful F1 driver of all time. His resilient spirit and standard of excellence will be an asset to the ownership group and the Broncos organization.”
The sale must be approved by at least 24 of the NFL’s 32 club owners to complete the purchase from the Pat Bowlen Trust. Bowlen purchased the Broncos in 1984 and died in 2019.
The vote is likely only a formality and it is scheduled for an owners’ meeting next week.
The Broncos won their third Super Bowl crown in 2016 but have not made the playoffs since. They went 7-10 last year for a fifth consecutive losing season.
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