For Hamilton, the new year starts with a $40M check!

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Lewis Hamilton has kicked off the new year on full throttle, awarding himself a hefty bonus for his prosperous 2018 season in the form of a luxurious Manhattan penthouse.

According to the very serious Wall Street Journal, the five-time world champion snagged a $40.7 million pad situated at 70 Vestry Street in lower Manhattan's Tribeca neighbourhood, an area typically popular with celebrities.

What's inside Lewis Hamilton's mean-machine garage?

The unit acquired by the Mercedes driver in the limestone residential building unfolds over 6,547 square feet and includes four bedrooms and 3,000 square feet of outdoor space, a rare perk in New York where Hamilton enjoys to spend a lot of his down time.

Hamilton's neighbours will include, among other celebrities, New England Patriot's football legend Tom Brady and his super-model wife Gisele Bündchen.

The Formula 1 star is apparently trading up, having previously invested in March 2017 in a loft-style apartment located just one block east of 70 Vestry, at 443 Greenwich Street.

Will Hamilton add more square footage if he wins a sixth world title in 2019? It's a buyer's market…

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.