Hamilton and Verstappen among 'most marketable' top 10 athletes

Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen are among the top 10 most marketable athletes in the world.

In a list that compiles the top 50 "most marketable athletes" in the the world compiled by SportsPro Media, Hamilton and Verstappen are the highest rated motorsport athletes at 8th and 10th on the list respectively.

Footballer Lionel Messi tops the list ahead of retired basketball player LeBron James, and US Women's National Soccer Team striker Alex Morgan.

Other F1 drivers that also make the list include McLaren's Lando Norris who is 25th ahead of Christiano Ronaldo (27th), and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc who is 28th behind US Open winner Coco Gauff.

Both George Russell and Sergio Perez were previously included on the list, but have both dropped off for the latest edition.

Why are F1 drivers marketable?

Both Football and Tennis have more representation than F1 in SportsPro's top 50 most marketable athletes.

Popular Netflix series Drive to Survive is mainly cited as a reason for providing fans with "unparalleled access" with drivers no longer hidden behind race helmets.

Hamilton is rated high for his brand strength, relating to his activism work and ties to companies such as Tommy Hilfiger, UBS, and IWC.

Social media is also cited as a key driver, with Verstappen, Norris and Leclerc appealing to these broader audiences through their following on platforms such as Instagram and Twitch.