Anthony Hamilton (born 1956) is a British racing manager and motorsport advocate, and is 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 endeavours.[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]
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]
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]
In 2010, Paul di Resta and Hamilton were working together, with Hamilton managing di Resta's career as he transitioned from DTM to Formula 1 with Force India. However, their professional relationship ended acrimoniously in 2012, leading to a legal dispute over a sponsorship deal and breach of contract. They eventually settled the case out of court in early 2014.[11][12]
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.[13]
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.[14]
In 2016, Anthony designed KickTrix, a device to aid aspiring soccer players, reflecting his interest in supporting young athletes beyond racing.[15]
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.[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.[17] 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.[18]
