Hamilton blows $400,000 on number plate

http://www.f1complete.com/content/view/8969/1/

Hamilton blows $400,000 on number plate
Tuesday, 17 June 2008
Jun.17 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has reportedly spent an eye-watering nearly $400,000 for a personalised number-plate.

The British formula one driver is now the flamboyant owner of the plate 'LEW 1S', which he will attach to his black 4x4 Mercedes-Benz for use in Switzerland, his adopted tax-haven home.

The plate was formerly owned by property tycoon Bob Lewis, who bought it last year for less than $100,000.

"A friend said he had been reluctant to part with the plate but (Hamilton's) offer had been too good to refuse," the British newspaper Daily Telegraph revealed.

In contrast, Hamilton's track rival Nick Heidfeld has vowed to pledge some of his earnings to a worthy cause.

"I am lucky to have quite a lot of money and I would like to be able to give some of it away," the German told ITV.

Heidfeld, who drives for BMW-Sauber, said he is considering pledging some money towards an invention that would clean water for underprivileged people.

"That's something I find very interesting and its something I'm considering," he added.

In other brief news, it has emerged that McLaren race team member Steve Hewitt had a ride in the medical helicopter to hospital during the Montreal weekend after he hurt his thumb in the paddock.

The thumb was not broken as feared, and Hewitt returned to the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve with a stitch or two, Switzerland's Motorsport Aktuell reports

 

So he says he left because he didnt want the attention and goes out and buys a license plate with his name ? What a FOS *****.

 

can anyone tell me, how many car lewis hamilton owns ?

and what are the cars owned by him?

thanks

 

Why buy a plate that says Lew 1S. Find one that says Lewis. Says reportedly so I call BS on this report.

 

Its written LEW1S but they make it look like LEWIS anyway.

 

Not possible if it is a UK registration, that is the best you will get if you want LEWIS, i suppose you could have LEW15 or L3WIS...

 

Yeah, I get it. Just saying if you are going to do it make it exact or why not Lewis F1. So is this a Swiss plate ot a British plate? My understanding is British plates are not able to be changed they stay with the car til death do us part.

 

Obviously a UK private plate, different to the US "vanity" plates in that in the UK the plate must be made up of numbers and letters.
LEWIS would not be permitted.
LEW1S would be, as would LEW15.

Paul

 

No they can be swapped as long as everything is done according to the regs. I assumed it was British due to the seller, who looks to have done well out of the deal!

Because of the format of the plates in the UK it would be very hard for most people to get their exact name.

 

No, in the UK the plate belong to the person,not the car. You can sell a car and keep the registration as long as you want.

 

Thanks for the clarification on the British plates. Still think it's a ridiculous story.

 

Can someone please explain why this is ridiculous and that he is also an ******.

He only bought a fricken personalised licence plate, em like most of us have.

 

He can get NY "LEW1S" one for somewhat less...

 

Probably $75?

 

Well I think it is ridiculous. But, I would rather have a small summer condo by the water than a licence plate. However I was refering to the story and still don't really believe it.

 

Ridiculous it isn't... many people are attracted to private plates in the UK, its a big business and there are many other storys similar to Hamiltons.

 

$45.

 

He also said he moved to Switzerland to avoid the media attention...Why get a personalized license plate with your name on it if you dont want the attention ? Or maybe he was just BSing and was moving to CH to avoid paying high taxes.....

 

Loads of famous Brits create residence in other countries to save on income taxes. The Stones did it really early on when their tax rate was 95% Jagger never forgot his economics classes. Who in there right mind would not and many F1 drivers establish rsidence in Monaco for the savings.

 

Im not fond of him or any other current F1 driver.. F1 stopped being good to watch after 2003..(best seasons being from '91 - '01)
Kimi is respectable, but everyone else is just in for the glam and flash... Coulthard has been there for ages and have never stood out- even down grading from mclaren (because of new talent) just to stay in the scene.. Schumi stayed for a final yr just because it was easy..

 

Obviously more money than sense in this case........

 

What a dildo. He has his head up his own a$$.

 

Can you say arrogant, smug brat? I sure can.

 

You know, that is what a lot of people say about young Fcar owners. Successful people can spend their $$$ the way they want. I'm not condoning him spending his money on a vanity plate, but it is his money.

 

He should have gotten:
a55w1pe