Formula GONE! Lewis Hamilton sells his £25m private jet as part of move toward greener lifestyle – after it was named in notorious Paradise Papers over £3.3m tax refund
- Lewis Hamilton has sold his £25million candy red private jet to a UK company
- The plane became notorious after appearing in the Paradise Papers
- It was owned by a British Virgin Islands company that leased it to two others
- F1 world champion got £3.3million VAT tax refund on the aircraft
Lewis Hamilton has sold his £25million candy red private jet to help reduce his carbon emissions.
The F1 world champion’s Bombardier Challenger 605 was named in notorious Paradise Papers when the 34-year-old got a £3.3million VAT refund on the jet.
It was purchased by his company in the British Virgin Islands before being leased to a second company in the Isle of Man, which leased it to a third private company, before leasing the plane back to Lewis Hamilton.
He purchased the aeroplane in 2013 and used to regularly post pictures of him and bulldog Coco flying between Los Angeles and London to visit a dog of the same breed called Roscoe.
However, following the decision to adopt a greener lifestyle, he decided to let the plane go.
Lewis Hamilton pictured stepping out of his Bombardier Challenger 605. The plane was named in notorious Paradise Papers when the 34-year-old is alleged to have received a £3.3million VAT tax refund
![Lewis Hamilton pictured standing in front of his candy red plane. He has sold the £25million aircraft reportedly to reduce his carbon emissions](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/06/29/13/15412300-7195179-image-a-7_1561809726356.jpg)
Lewis Hamilton pictured standing in front of his candy red plane. He has sold the £25million aircraft reportedly to reduce his carbon emissions
![The candy red plane pictured at an airport. It has now been bought by private jet firm Saxon Air, which is based at Norwich Airport](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/06/29/13/15412298-7195179-image-m-11_1561809977658.jpg)
The candy red plane pictured at an airport. It has now been bought by private jet firm Saxon Air, which is based at Norwich Airport
The jet was sold in February, reports The Sun, and is now owned by private jet firm Saxon Air, based at Norwich Airport.
The five-time World Championship winner may have given it up as it did not meet his views on sustainable living.
Earlier this month the celebrity, who eats a plant-based diet, re-posted a photo from Save the Reef which showed whales being slaughtered.
He wrote in the caption: ‘This is so upsetting. How can you honestly do this to another being’.
Pictures on Instagram show the five-time World Championship title winner reclining in a chair on the jet and standing on its steps at an airport.
![Lewis Hamilton's dog pictured on board the jet. He used to fly between Los Angeles and London with the pet but has since given up the aeroplane as part of a greener lifestyle](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/06/10/00/14579512-7122295-image-a-51_1560122072756.jpg)
Lewis Hamilton’s dog pictured on board the jet. He used to fly between Los Angeles and London with the pet but has since given up the aeroplane as part of a greener lifestyle
![Hamilton, from Stevenage, regularly flaunts his lavish lifestyle online and has even created a page for his dogs to flaunt their's too. He is pictured on his private jet](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/06/10/00/14579542-7122295-image-m-56_1560122263048.jpg)
Hamilton, from Stevenage, regularly flaunts his lavish lifestyle online and has even created a page for his dogs to flaunt their’s too. He is pictured on his private jet
Earlier this month he posted a photo of Coco on the private jet with the caption: ‘In case you didn’t know about my two kids.
‘Coco is living the life by the beach in Malibu. Roscoe is in the UK with grandma enjoying the sun. To be reunited soon.’
The plane, which generated on average 1.67 tonnes of CO2 for each 5,400 flight between Los Angeles and Heathrow, stood in stark contrast to his apparent commitments to protect the planet.
In an earlier post he said: ‘I stopped eating red meat two years ago. I have generally been pescatarian for the majority of the year and now I’ve cut fish.
‘Pollution coming from the amount of cows are being produced is incredible. The cruelty is horrible and I want a healthier life.
‘They say it is more than what we produce with our flights and our cars, which is kind of crazy I think’.
While owning the craft, Hamilton also reportedly clashed with his pilot after the member of staff used his private toilet.
![Lewis Hamilton at the F1 Grand Prix of Austria at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria, on Thursday. The F1 world champion has sold his £25million plane](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/06/29/13/15413136-7195179-image-m-24_1561812147467.jpg)
Lewis Hamilton at the F1 Grand Prix of Austria at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria, on Thursday. The F1 world champion has sold his £25million plane
![Lewis Hamilton pictured walking out of his red private jet. The jet may have been given up as part of a move towards a greener lifestyle](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/06/29/13/15412304-7195179-image-a-8_1561809733438.jpg)
Lewis Hamilton pictured walking out of his red private jet. The jet may have been given up as part of a move towards a greener lifestyle
![Lewis Hamilton's private jet pictured at an airport. At one point he reportedly clashed with his pilot after the member of staff used his private toilet](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/06/29/13/15412302-7195179-image-a-9_1561809736925.jpg)
Lewis Hamilton’s private jet pictured at an airport. At one point he reportedly clashed with his pilot after the member of staff used his private toilet