Lewis Hamilton has credited advice from his father Anthony with shaping his approach to Formula 1 and contributing to his championship success, according to GP Today. The publication reports on the Ferrari driver’s reflection on the guidance that proved instrumental in his career.
The specific content of the advice and when it was delivered were not available at the time of writing. Hamilton has spoken frequently throughout his career about his father’s influence, crediting Anthony Hamilton with managing his junior career and making significant personal sacrifices to fund his progression through karting and single-seaters.
Anthony Hamilton’s Role
Anthony Hamilton worked multiple jobs to finance his son’s karting career in the 1990s, often holding down three positions simultaneously to cover the costs of competing. He managed Lewis’s career until 2010, when the driver brought in Simon Fuller’s XIX Entertainment management group. Despite the change in formal management, Anthony remained a close adviser.
The elder Hamilton’s influence extended beyond financial support. He accompanied Lewis to races, handled negotiations with teams, and provided the strategic and emotional foundation for the young driver’s development. Lewis has described his father as his hero on multiple occasions and has acknowledged the family’s working-class background in Stevenage shaped his determination.
Hamilton’s path to Formula 1 began with McLaren’s young driver programme in 1998, when Ron Dennis signed the 13-year-old after seeing him compete in karting. Anthony Hamilton played the central role in securing that opportunity, approaching Dennis at an awards ceremony and making the case for his son’s talent.
Championship Legacy
Hamilton won his first drivers’ championship in 2008 with McLaren, taking the title at the final round in Brazil by a single point over Felipe Massa. He added six more championships with Mercedes between 2014 and 2020, equalling Michael Schumacher’s record of seven titles.
The British driver moved to Ferrari for the 2025 season, ending his 12-year partnership with Mercedes. He now races alongside Charles Leclerc for the Scuderia, targeting an eighth world championship that would break Schumacher’s record. Hamilton turned 41 in January 2026 and enters his third season with Ferrari competing under the sport’s overhauled technical regulations.
The full details of the specific advice Anthony Hamilton provided, and Hamilton’s own words describing its impact, remain in the source reporting not accessible at this time.