The biggest factor stopping a person from becoming a Formula 1 driver is lack of faith, every other shortcoming or obstruction can be overcome.

The Hamilton family is living proof of that! Lewis is still the only person of color on the grid and he also came from a humble background, wherein even karting is an expensive affair. The determination and drive to achieve the F1 goal made Lewis Hamilton who he is today. However, today we are highlighting the drive in his father, Anthony Hamilton.

Sure Lewis is the face of the operation and leads the fight against inequality, injustice, and lack of diversity, among other fronts. However, when no one was voicing these opinions, his father, Anthony, was working tirelessly for his son to get one shot at the F1 dream. Speaking about the lack of diversity in F1 and how Lewis Hamilton is a trailblazer in an exclusive interview with EssentiallySports, Perry McCarthy highlighted Anthony Hamilton’s contribution, which gave a deprived Lewis a wealth of opportunities.

Talking about the lack of diversity in F1, McCarthy said, “Lewis is an absolute breakthrough, to cut through a race barrier that was there (in F1) and certainly his family were absolutely not privileged. Where Lewis was privileged, and it really is important to remember this, is he did have his father who believed in him from such a young age and his father supported him all the way through.” 

“I know Anthony (Hamilton), he just works. He works works works. So he was working all the time to make sure Lewis had an opportunity,” he concluded.

Hard work always pays off and in the Hamiltons’ case first, it was Anthony Hamilton who broke his back for his son, and then his son repaid him with unmeasurable success. In fact, Hamilton’s father was his agent for many years after his debut, and even though he isn’t officially his agent, he’s surely his advisor.

Anthony Hamilton warns his son Lewis to not make the same mistakes as Fernando Alonso

Lewis Hamilton had one of the most difficult decisions on his hands in the middle of the 2023 season. The Brit had to decide his future with Mercedes and continue to put his faith in the team or leave them before his dream downs with them, given the current state of the car.

However, despite their current state and Hamilton’s discomfort with the car, his father was confident he would stick with Mercedes because of the shared history. While expressing this, Mr. Anthony also supported his advice with the example of Fernando Alonso who moved around and never found success after the first two championships with Renault.

Anthony said, “Put it this way, I’d be more surprised to see him change teams than walk away. But he says it with some conviction that he will carry on until he gets that eighth title. The team’s given him so much and they won their eighth title.”

“You’d have to say that, if anyone can turn it around, it’ll be Mercedes. I’d say don’t have a knee-jerk reaction like Fernando Alonso in the past, which hasn’t worked out well for him until now. Just put faith in the team that they can turn it around.”

As we know, Hamilton took his father’s advice. Now it remains to be seen if it was good advice. For his and for the sport’s sake, let’s hope it was and we can witness the Brit put up a fight one last time before he retires.