Leclerc overtakes Hamilton in 2026 marketability rankings

Lewis Hamilton has fallen from the top of SportsPro’s annual marketability rankings to 22nd, with Charles Leclerc now the leading Formula 1 driver on the list in ninth place.

Hamilton topped the 2025 edition but scored 66.63 out of 100 this time, down from 96.03. Leclerc, who was 25th last year, earned 71.12. The 2026 rankings were compiled using data from NorthStar Solutions Group.

Aryna Sabalenka leads the overall list, ahead of freestyle skier Eileen Gu, basketball player Giannis Antetokounmpo, footballer Erling Haaland and tennis player Carlos Alcaraz. Hamilton’s drop comes during his first season at Ferrari, a campaign in which he did not finish on the podium in a grand prix during the period measured.

Leclerc leads Formula 1’s top 50

Max Verstappen is the only other F1 driver inside the top 50. He climbed from 81st to 48th, while Oscar Piastri sits 56th. Piastri is ahead of McLaren team-mate Lando Norris, who fell from 41st to 78th. Kimi Antonelli is 126th, outside the top 100 but within the top 150.

The rankings assess brand equity, momentum and potential for commercial growth. Their data covers 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026, so Antonelli’s title win in Mexico earlier this month is not included.

Hamilton’s place in the rankings also reflects a difficult stretch at Ferrari. His season has since taken a different turn: he was second in the drivers’ standings for much of the early races and, with three races remaining, is fourth and still in contention for second. The latest figures offer one measure of how his commercial profile has shifted alongside his results; Hamilton’s 2026 redemption story remains a separate part of the season’s narrative.

Hamilton’s profile extends beyond racing

Despite the slide, Hamilton remains well ahead of most of the F1 grid in the rankings. His appeal is not limited to motorsport, with the source noting his connections to fashion and film.

Leclerc’s rise puts him ahead of his Ferrari team-mate in the 2026 list, although the ranking is based on the stated data window rather than the closing weeks of the season. For more on the Monegasque’s public profile during the campaign, read about his social media silence amid Ferrari’s difficult stretch.