Lewis Hamilton Falls Behind Charles Leclerc in Sports Marketability Race

Lewis Hamilton has slipped behind his Ferrari teammate, Charles Leclerc, in the latest sports marketability rankings.

The seven-time world champion had topped SportPro’s annual list of the 50 Most Marketable Athletes last year, but dropped to 22nd in the 2026 edition, which was compiled with data from NorthStar Solutions Group.

Belarusian tennis star Aryna Sabalenka currently leads the list, followed by freestyle skier Eileen Gu, basketball player Giannis Antetokounmpo, footballer Erling Haaland, and tennis player Carlos Alcaraz.

Leclerc now stands as the highest-ranked Formula 1 driver, in ninth place. He had been ranked 25th the previous year. Hamilton’s score fell to 66.63 out of 100, down from 96.03 last year, while Leclerc scored 71.12.

Max Verstappen is the only other driver in the top 50, having climbed from 81st to 48th.

Looking beyond the top 50, the top 100 list includes some surprising names. Oscar Piastri is 56th, notably ahead of McLaren teammate and 2025 champion Lando Norris, who dropped from 41st to 78th. Kimi Antonelli, F1’s new world champion, just about made the top 150, placing 126th.

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Photo by: Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images

These scores are based on brand equity, momentum, and room for commercial growth. They cover the period from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026, meaning Antonelli’s title in Mexico earlier this month is not included. The rankings also cover much of Hamilton’s difficult first season at Ferrari, when he failed to finish on the podium in a grand prix. His current season, however, has been a different story, with him sitting second in the drivers’ standings for many of the early races. With three races to go, he sits fourth and is still in the fight for second place.

The Briton still ranks well above most of the grid, and his brand extends far beyond racing, into fashion and film.

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