After announcing that his father, Anthony, will no longer represent his business interests, Lewis Hamilton is in search of the suitable manager who would take advantage of its racing profits in an optimal way. In an interview with Autosport, Hamilton said that despite his father guiding his career since he was eight, the time has now come for the relationship to change.
"I'm 25 now - and I think it was inevitable that there had to be change at some point. Over the past few years, we looked around to see if we could bring someone else into the picture to help with the situation - whether to help with guidance, or sponsors, or whatever it was. We looked at it and I just never felt comfortable with anyone else. At the time I loved my dad being my manager and taking care of things, because I trust him.
agers you hire as employees, but my dad is my dad. I know he does things for only the right reasons, and I can just trust him with my full heart. I've been in F1 for quite a while now and I wouldn't have been able to do it without him. He's done a fantastic job. But he's done that job.
At some stage I am going to have to have a new manager. My dad will guide me and help me with the transition, and even the selection, but as a dad. The great thing is, I am here at McLaren for the next three years at least - and of course without my dad I would not be in this position. But we at McLaren are a family, the guys all help look after me in many ways, so there is no need for us to rush to find a new manager. We just want to take the right steps in the right time." Haimlton quoted.
Part of the reason for the split is that Anthony Hamilton's other business interests continue to grow, including setting up a new school for budding drivers called GP Prep. He also manages Force India test driver Paul di Resta and karting star Nyck de Vries.
"The most important thing for me is that I have been with my dad working on my career since I was eight years old, and it was therefore hard to go and do father-and-son things," he said. "When we were at the race track he was always my manager, so we always did business things not father-and-son things. What I am really, really excited about now is having my dad just as my dad. I want to have a manager, who can take care of all the stresses and do all the other stuff, and then I want to do dad things with my dad.
"At some stage I am going to have to have a new manager. My dad will guide me and help me with the transition, and even the selection, but as a dad. The great thing is, I am here at McLaren for the next three years at least - and of course without my dad I would not be in this position. But we at McLaren are a family, the guys all help look after me in many ways, so there is no need for us to rush to find a new manager. We just want to take the right steps in the right time."
The management split of Lewis and Anthony Hamilton is the latest long term and strong-bonded management split in F1. Still the most unexpected was the one between Jacques Villeneuve and Graig Pollock after the failure of Graig Pollock to provide a funding support for Villeneuve's NASCAR Sprint Cup career in 2008.It is well known that Graig was far beyond than just a successful manager that contributed to Villeneuve's success during 90s but also also a father, a friend and mentor as well as his Team Manager in British American Racing.
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