Anthony Hamilton (racing manager)

Anthony Hamilton was born in 1956 in the United Kingdom to parents who had emigrated from Grenada in the West Indies during the 1950s.{{cite web |title=Anthony Hamilton – Meet Father Of Lewis Hamilton |url=https://vergewiki.com/anthony-hamilton |website=VergeWiki |access-date=2025-05-16}} Raised in a working-class family in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, he later raised his son, Lewis, in the same town.{{cite web |title=Anthony Hamilton the man behind Lewis Hamilton's success |url=https://racingnews365.com/anthony-hamilton-the-man-behind-lewis-hamiltons-success |website=RacingNews365 |access-date=2025-05-16}}

File:Hamilton and Father Brazil 2008.jpg{{cite news|title=Anthony Hamilton's massive support makes parting with Lewis easier to understand|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/motorsport/formulaone/lewishamilton/7355036/Anthony-Hamiltons-massive-support-makes-parting-with-Lewis-easier-to-understand.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/motorsport/formulaone/lewishamilton/7355036/Anthony-Hamiltons-massive-support-makes-parting-with-Lewis-easier-to-understand.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|work=The Daily Telegraph |date=3 March 2010|access-date=14 May 2010|location=London|first=Tom|last=Cary}}{{cbignore}}|right]]

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.{{cite web |title=All About Lewis Hamilton's Parents, Anthony Hamilton and Carmen Larbalestier |url=https://people.com/all-about-lewis-hamilton-parents-anthony-hamilton-carmen-larbalestier-7555298 |website=People |access-date=2025-05-16}}

He also founded an IT company to sustain the family's finances while attending Lewis's races.{{cite web |title=Anthony Hamilton: Being the Dad of a three-time F1 champion |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2016/06/17/motorsport/anthony-hamilton-f1-dad-lewis |website=CNN |access-date=2025-05-16}}

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.{{cite web |title=Lewis Hamilton speaks candidly about relationship with father Anthony |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/55432109 |website=BBC Sport |access-date=2025-05-16}}

In 2010, Lewis ended their professional relationship, seeking a father-son dynamic unburdened by business.{{cite web |title=Lewis Hamilton speaks candidly about relationship with father Anthony |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/55432109 |website=BBC Sport |access-date=2025-05-16}}

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.{{cite web |title=Lewis Hamilton's father Anthony to take on FIA young driver development role |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/motorsport/articles/clygynky7rno |website=BBC Sport |access-date=2025-05-16}}

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.{{cite web |title='I felt for him like a father' – Anthony Hamilton reveals what he said to Hadjar in heartfelt embrace after Melbourne spin |url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/i-felt-for-him-like-a-father-anthony-hamilton-reveals-what-he-said-to-hadjar.4h7T5Qz6k7uJ5T5Qz6k7uJ.html |website=Formula1.com |access-date=2025-05-16}}

In 2016, Anthony designed KickTrix, a device to aid aspiring soccer players, reflecting his interest in supporting young athletes beyond racing.{{Cite web |last=Sylt |first=Christian |date=2016-10-03 |title=Lewis Hamilton's dad invents smart keepy-uppy football game |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/health/lewis-hamiltons-dad-invents-smart-keepyuppy-football-tech-a3359681.html |access-date=2025-05-16 |website=The Standard |language=en}}

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.{{cite web |title=Lewis Hamilton |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_Hamilton |website=Wikipedia |access-date=2025-05-16}} 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.{{cite web |title=Who are Lewis Hamilton's Parents? Meet Anthony Hamilton and Carmen Larbalestier |url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/f1/lewis-hamilton-parents |website=Sportskeeda |access-date=2025-05-16}} 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.{{cite web |title=Revealed: Lewis Hamilton's father Anthony will join the seven-time champion as he completes his historic first drive for Ferrari |url=https://www.msn.com/en-sg/news/other/revealed-lewis-hamilton-s-father-anthony-will-join-the-seven-time-champion-as-he-completes-his-historic-first-drive-for-ferrari-with-brit-to-wear-a-special-helmet-for-the-occasion/|website=MSN |access-date=2025-05-16}}

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Category:Living people

Category:Motorsport agents

Category:1956 births

Category:Grenadian sportsmen