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Lewis Hamilton puts aside Arsenal loyalty to guide Premier League star from rival club
Oct 25 2025 17:38 · By Daniel Moxon/Senior F1 Correspondent
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Formula 1 icon Lewis Hamilton may be a big Arsenal fan, but he's been drawing on his wealth of winning experience to mentor a key player from one of the Gunners' Premier League rivals. And there's certainly no shortage of wisdom to share, considering his remarkable record as a seven-time F1 champion and the sport's most successful driver of all time.
Aged 40, Hamilton has been offering his mentorship to others. Chelsea and England defender Reece James , who identified the racing superstar as an important source of support in recent months.
Speaking to BBC Sport , James explained that he first encountered Hamilton through "a mutual friend" and they have maintained regular communication ever since.
The motorsport champion publicly backed the Chelsea defender during the summer following the Blues' Club World Cup victory, posting on Instagram : "Through it all, you kept your head up and kept pushing. Proud of you brother."
BBC presenter Kelly Somers referenced that social media message during her chat with James, noting: "It wasn't sent from someone just observing, it was from someone that clearly knows you. Talk to me about that relationship with him."
James responded: "We're reasonably close. He's probably the greatest F1 driver to have lived. I know we play different sports, but there are many similarities. He tries to help me where he can, when I'm going through difficult spells, because he has been at a high level for longer, and he's been through more."
In an alternate universe, Hamilton could have had a stake in James' club if the Chelsea takeover bid the F1 ace joined in 2022 had been successful.
Hamilton teamed up with good friend and fellow sports superstar Serena Williams to back Sir Martin Broughton and his consortium , which ultimately fell short in its bid to buy the Stamford Bridge club.
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Instead, the club was snapped up by a consortium led by American tycoon Todd Boehly . As for Hamilton, he has had a taste of sports franchise ownership through his stake in NFL team the Denver Broncos – but his primary goal is still to clinch the F1 title again before he hangs up his racing gloves.