Superstar of Formula One Lewis Hamilton maintains certain aspects of his personal life hidden from the public, but over time, certain information has come to light, including his numerous relationships and a tense family dispute.
Despite his efforts to keep most aspects of his personal life hidden, Lewis Hamilton is without a doubt the most prominent and recognizable character in Formula One.
The British driver, who is currently 39 years old, needs just one more world championship to become the most decorated driver in Formula One history. However, under the helmet and away from the roaring engines is a complex person whose existence extends beyond the racetrack.
Hamilton was born and reared in Stevenage, the son of a Grenadian father and a Birmingham mother. His multicultural upbringing has greatly influenced his values and sense of self.
Mirror Sport has delved into the lesser-known but frequently hidden facets of Hamilton’s life, including intense love affairs, close-knit familial ties, and a pivotal confrontation that almost brought an end to his Formula One career.
Family
When Hamilton was two years old, his parents separated. He moved in with his father Anthony, who later oversaw his racing career, at the age of twelve. He also shared a home with his stepmother Linda and half-brother Nicolas, who drives professionally. He had previously shared a home with his half-sisters Samantha and Nicola as well as his mother Carmen.
Anthony was instrumental in determining his son’s career path. At the age of six, he realized Lewis had the ability to be a racer and gave him a go-kart for Christmas. He worked many jobs at the same time to support Lewis’s emerging career.
Lewis started karting when he was eight years old, and two years later he won the British Cadet Karting Championship at the youngest age. His quick rise through the ranks saw him make his professional debut in 2001 and eventually qualify for Formula 1 in 2007.
After Lewis’s ascent to prominence, Anthony, who had been there all along, took up the position of race manager for his son. But their business relationship would ultimately come to an unhappy end.
Sacrificing his dad
Under his father’s tutelage, Hamilton won his first Formula One championship in 2008, making history as the sport’s youngest winner at the age of 23. But in 2009, a major technical regulatory change hindered his McLaren’s performance, which led to a drop in performance.
He abruptly ended his working ties with his father in 2010, which led to a period of alienation. Anthony said he was “stunned” and “heartbroken” by his son’s decision in a 2012 interview with the Sunday Mirror, adding that he “struggled to cope with it.”
He remarked, “It was a nightmare.” “Something seemed to have passed away. I was horrified and heartbroken. We hadn’t fallen out, so it was very unexpected when he indicated he no longer wanted me to be manager. I didn’t lose my cool, but I didn’t handle it properly either. Since his very first remote-control car race at the age of five, I had been by his side. Week in and week out, I would give it my all every week. It was a moment that would change my life.”
Lewis reflected on the conflict in the On Purpose podcast and said, “There was a time when my dad and I got into a fight. All I wanted was for him to be my dad. Let’s laugh together and enjoy ourselves. It was something we hadn’t done in a long time. I made the decision to go professional distance from my parents and follow my own path. Our correspondence decreased in frequency for a period.”
More conflict and harmony
The court was informed that Lewis promised to give his father $4 million (£2.5 million) as part of their agreement to part ways with former Formula One ace Paul Di Resta, whom Anthony also used to manage. However, Lewis never followed through on this promise. Although Anthony insisted he had never asked his son for money, he was taken aback when Lewis chose not to comply.
“I never made a cent request to Lewis. All I wanted after eighteen years of effort was his gratitude when he won the World Championship in 2008, Anthony stated.
Since then, the two have reconciled, however Anthony’s involvement in his son’s career is now limited to support. Lewis shared the following on social media in 2020: “My father and I haven’t always had the best connection… We’ve both yearned to reestablish the father-son bond that we lost over time.”
Lewis’s emotional embrace of his father following his victory at Silverstone earlier this year—his first Grand Prix triumph since 2021—was a moving scene that captured their present bond. Lewis subsequently said: “That’s all it was, like releasing a pressure valve.” I mean, isn’t it always lovely to share these kinds of moments?”
