Lewis Hamilton has previously backed Sir Jim Ratcliffe
Lewis Hamilton's previous discussions with Sir Jim Ratcliffe would suggest the billionaire does have Manchester United's best interests at heart despite the sweeping cuts he is making.
Ratcliffe completed his purchase of a 25 per cent stake in the Red Devils last year, but his reign has so far been a disaster. United have made 250 staff redundant, let legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson go as an ambassador, sacked Erik ten Hag and Dan Ashworth, and raised ticket prices to a minimum of £66 across the board.
They also blew £200million in a summer transfer window that delivered decidedly mixed results. The changes have not yet led to any success on the pitch, with United 13th in the Premier League.
Now Ratcliffe is planning to launch another major lay-off programme, with more than 100 staff set to be let go. The billionaire is also a major player behind the Mercedes F1 team, who Hamilton drove for between 2013 and 2024.
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The seven-time world champion formed a close relationship with Ratcliffe during his time with the Silver Arrows. And he disclosed that they shared a number of conversations around football, an area Ratcliffe is 'passionate' about.
“Jim’s part boss but partner – I'd say we're more partners because we're in this together and I hope in future to do something with Jim and build with him,” said Hamilton in 2022. “I don't know where that will be or what that will be, so I can't really say.
“I haven't had a call from him asking if I want to be involved in [a United takeover bid] just yet, but I do want to get more and more involved in teams because I really do believe in black ownership – there is a lack of it in sports – and black equity. Again, there is a real lack of that.
"I am very close with Jim so I am aware of where he is at (with United). We talk a lot about football as he is very passionate about it. We have great discussions about what his team is doing, we talk about how Arsenal is playing.”
Ratcliffe is planning a fresh wave of cuts at United ( Image: Offside via Getty Images)
In December, Ratcliffe defended his strategy with the cuts he was making at United. He insisted that he was trying to turn the Red Devils into a sustainable business.
" Manchester United has become mediocre. It is supposed to be one of the best football clubs in the world. We have to make some difficult and unpopular decisions. If you shy away from the difficult decisions, then nothing much is going to change," he told the United We Stand fanzine.
"I know we get criticism in the press but we do need to challenge the cost of running this club because what I want to be free for us to do is buy really good footballers, not spend so much of the money on infrastructure.
"We can't run a business at a loss, which is where United have been in the last couple of years. If you are losing money you have to borrow from the bank to pay for the losses. Eventually that becomes unsustainable."
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