Anthony Hamilton (racing manager)
Anthony Hamilton (born 1956) is a British racing manager and motorsport advocate, best known as the father and former manager of seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton.[1] Born in the United Kingdom to Grenadian parents, Anthony played a pivotal role in nurturing Lewis’s racing career, working multiple jobs to fund his son’s karting and junior racing endeavors.[2] Since 2023, he has served as an advisor to the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), contributing to its Young Driver Development Pathway.[3]
Early life
[edit]Anthony Hamilton was born in 1956 in the United Kingdom to parents who had emigrated from Grenada in the West Indies during the 1950s.[4] Raised in a working-class family in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, he later raised his son, Lewis, in the same town.[5]
Career
[edit]
Support for Lewis Hamilton's racing career
[edit]Recognizing his son’s talent, Anthony Hamilton purchased a second-hand go-kart for Lewis at age eight, promising to support his racing career contingent on strong academic performance. To fund Lewis’s karting, Anthony left his job as an IT manager to become a contractor, often working up to four jobs simultaneously, including roles as a double-glazing salesman, dishwasher, and estate agent sign installer.[7]
He also founded an IT company to sustain the family’s finances while attending Lewis’s races.[8]
As Lewis progressed through karting and junior formulas, Anthony served as his manager, mechanic, and mentor. In 1998, at age 13, Lewis was signed to McLaren’s young driver program, a milestone Anthony helped negotiate. A notable disagreement occurred in 2006 with McLaren executive Martin Whitmarsh over Lewis’s progression to GP2, leading Whitmarsh to tear up Lewis’s contract. Anthony’s persistence ensured Lewis remained with McLaren, winning the 2006 GP2 title and securing a Formula 1 seat in 2007. Anthony managed Lewis during his Formula 1 debut with McLaren, culminating in Lewis’s first World Drivers’ Championship in 2008.[9]
In 2010, Lewis ended their professional relationship, seeking a father-son dynamic unburdened by business.[10]
FIA young driver development role
[edit]Since 2023, Anthony Hamilton has advised the FIA on its Young Driver Development Pathway, leveraging his experience nurturing Lewis’s career. His role was formalized at the FIA’s June 2025 conference in Macau, where the program was launched to streamline pathways from grassroots racing to professional motorsport.[11]
Hamilton’s work has been praised by FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, despite Lewis’s public criticisms of Ben Sulayem’s leadership. His mentoring, including emotional support for rookie Isack Hadjar after a crash at the 2025 Australian Grand Prix, reflects his approach.[12]
Other ventures
[edit]In 2016, Anthony designed KickTrix, a device to aid aspiring soccer players, reflecting his interest in supporting young athletes beyond racing.[13]
Personal life
[edit]Anthony Hamilton married Carmen Larbalestier, a white British woman, in the early 1980s. Their son, Lewis Hamilton, was born on January 7, 1985, in Stevenage.[14] The couple separated when Lewis was two, and Lewis lived with Carmen and his half-sisters, Nicola and Samantha Lockhart, until age 12, when he moved in with Anthony. After the separation, Anthony began a relationship with Linda Hamilton, whom he later married.[15] They have a son, Nicolas Hamilton, born in 1992 with cerebral palsy, who is a professional racing driver in the British Touring Car Championship. Anthony remains close to his family, attending Lewis’s races, including Lewis’s first Ferrari drive in January 2025, alongside Carmen and Linda.[16]
References
[edit]- ^ "Who is Lewis Hamilton's father, Anthony Hamilton?". Silver Arrows Net.
- ^ "Who is Lewis Hamilton's dad Anthony Hamilton?". GPBlog. Retrieved 2025-05-16.
- ^ "Lewis Hamilton's father Anthony set to receive official FIA young driver role". Motorsport.com. Retrieved 2025-05-16.
- ^ "Anthony Hamilton – Meet Father Of Lewis Hamilton". VergeWiki. Retrieved 2025-05-16.
- ^ "Anthony Hamilton the man behind Lewis Hamilton's success". RacingNews365. Retrieved 2025-05-16.
- ^ Cary, Tom (3 March 2010). "Anthony Hamilton's massive support makes parting with Lewis easier to understand". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 10 January 2022. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
- ^ "All About Lewis Hamilton's Parents, Anthony Hamilton and Carmen Larbalestier". People. Retrieved 2025-05-16.
- ^ "Anthony Hamilton: Being the Dad of a three-time F1 champion". CNN. Retrieved 2025-05-16.
- ^ "Lewis Hamilton speaks candidly about relationship with father Anthony". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2025-05-16.
- ^ "Lewis Hamilton speaks candidly about relationship with father Anthony". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2025-05-16.
- ^ "Lewis Hamilton's father Anthony to take on FIA young driver development role". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2025-05-16.
- ^ "'I felt for him like a father' – Anthony Hamilton reveals what he said to Hadjar in heartfelt embrace after Melbourne spin". Formula1.com. Retrieved 2025-05-16.
- ^ Sylt, Christian (2016-10-03). "Lewis Hamilton's dad invents smart keepy-uppy football game". The Standard. Retrieved 2025-05-16.
- ^ "Lewis Hamilton". Wikipedia. Retrieved 2025-05-16.
- ^ "Who are Lewis Hamilton's Parents? Meet Anthony Hamilton and Carmen Larbalestier". Sportskeeda. Retrieved 2025-05-16.
- ^ "Revealed: Lewis Hamilton's father Anthony will join the seven-time champion as he completes his historic first drive for Ferrari". MSN. Retrieved 2025-05-16.