The public is rarely privy to certain aspects of Formula One star Lewis Hamilton’s personal life, but over time, some information has come to light, including his numerous relationships and a tense family dispute.
Lewis Hamilton is without a doubt the most prominent and recognizable figure in Formula One, despite his efforts to keep most aspects of his personal life hidden.
Now 39 years old, the British driver needs just one more world championship to become the most decorated driver in Formula One history. That being said, there is a complex person whose life extends beyond the circuit beneath the helmet and away from the roaring engines.
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 potential to be a racer and gave him a go-kart for Christmas. He worked multiple 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 on the role of racing manager for his son. But their business relationship would ultimately come to an unhappy end.
Sacking his father
Under his father’s tutelage, Hamilton won his first Formula One championship in 2008, making history as the sport’s youngest champion at the age of 23. But in 2009, a major technical regulation change hindered his McLaren’s performance, which led to a drop in performance.
He abruptly ended his professional relationship with his father in 2010, which led to a period of estrangement. 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 totally unexpected when he said he no longer wanted me to be manager. I didn’t lose my cool, but I didn’t handle it well 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.”
Reflecting on the tension in the On Purpose podcast, Lewis explained: “My dad and I clashed at one point. 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 dad and follow my own path. Our communication decreased in frequency for a while.”
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. Anthony insisted that he had never asked his son for money, so he was taken aback when Lewis declined.
“I never made a penny request to Lewis. All I needed for eighteen years of graft was his gratitude when he won the World Championship in 2008, Anthony said.
Since then, the two have reconciled, though 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 relationship… 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 current 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?”
Relationships
Rapper Kanye West’s former girlfriend, Brazilian model Juliana Nalu, has been connected to Hamilton recently. The couple was spotted together at a number of social events; at one New Year’s Eve party, Hamilton was seen reaching for Juliana’s hand.
However, rumors indicate that this possible love affair has since ended. To further complicate matters, Hamilton is rumored to have been seen on Raya, an elite dating service that stars are known to use.
Previously, Hamilton had an intermittent relationship that ended in 2015 with Pussycat Dolls lead singer Nicole Scherzinger. He has since been connected to a number of well-known figures, including Rita Ora, Shakira, Niki Minaj, Kendall Jenner, and Rihanna.
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