Lewis Hamilton says he is changing his SURNAME in tribute to his mother

Who is Lewis Hamilton’s mother Carmen? 

Speaking about her break-up with Anthony, Carmen once revealed: ‘Lewis was the best thing to come out of my marriage’

Born Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton, Hamilton grew up in the Hertfordshire town of Stevenage to parents Anthony and Carmen.

Hamilton was raised by his mother until 12, when he moved to live with his father Anthony, stepmother Linda and half-brother Nicolas. Anthony Hamilton is widely credited with having gotten the young Lewis into racing when he bought him remote-controlled car when he was seven, and his first go-kart the following Christmas.

In a sign of the growing closeness of the bond between Hamilton and his mother Carmen, F1’s most famous face invited his mother Carmen to watch him receive his knighthood from Prince Charles at Windsor Castle in December.

Speaking about her break-up with Anthony, Carmen once revealed: ‘Lewis was the best thing to come out of my marriage. [The split] didn’t damage Lewis.

‘He is probably better for it than if we had stuck together in an unhappy marriage. Tony wanted to be somebody and he has achieved that. I wanted the quiet life and that put a barrier between us. I couldn’t see myself in that busy, hectic lifestyle.

‘But I didn’t stop him making sure Lewis got what he wanted. Without his dad’s constant, constant work he would not have been able to continue.’

British F1 superstar Lewis Hamilton has announced that he is changing his surname to include his mother’s maiden name because he doesn’t ‘really fully understand the whole idea that when people get married the woman loses her name’.

The seven-time world champion said he intends to incorporate his mother Carmen’s maiden name Larbalestier alongside Hamilton so that the surname can live on with him.

Speaking ahead of the new Formula One season which starts in Bahrain on Sunday, he said: ‘It would mean the world to my family [to win an eighth title]. ‘It would mean a lot to me knowing that, for example, I’m really proud of my family’s name: Hamilton. Actually none of you might know that my mum’s [sur]name is Larbalestier. And I’m just about to put that in my name.

‘Because I don’t really fully understand the whole idea of why, when people get married, the woman loses her name. I really want her name to continue on with the Hamilton name.’

Asked whether it would be in time for this weekend, Hamilton added. ‘It will be soon. No, I don’t know if it will be this weekend. But we’re working on it.’  

Born Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton, the 37-year-old driving ace grew up in the Hertfordshire town of Stevenage to parents Anthony and Carmen. 

After Hamilton’s parents split when he aged two, he was raised by his mother until aged 12, when he moved to live with his father Anthony, stepmother Linda and half-brother Nicolas. Anthony Hamilton is widely credited with having gotten the young Lewis into racing when he bought him remote-controlled car when he was seven, and his first go-kart the following Christmas.

Hamilton quickly began winning races and cadet class championships and became the youngest driver to win the British cadet karting championship at the age of 10. 

Anthony was Lewis’s manager throughout his racing career until 2010, when he was ruthlessly sacked. Two weeks before the F1 season started, Hamilton downplayed the development, announcing: ‘Dad will miss being here, but it was me who initiated the break. He’s got other things to focus on, and I don’t want my dad being my manager anymore.’

However, Anthony later revealed: ‘He [Lewis] thought, “Do you know what dad? I am fed up listening to you”. He decided he wanted to be his own man. I was comfortable with that.’  

In a sign of the closeness of the bond between Hamilton and his mother Carmen, F1’s most famous face invited her to watch him receive his knighthood from Prince Charles at Windsor Castle in December. 

Asked about the incoming name change on Sky Sports News, Sky F1 commentator David Croft called it ‘fantastic’. He added: ‘Lewis is so attached to his dad because of their background and the karting weekends, and the bond that came through racing. 

‘But he has also got a huge bond with his mum, he loves her to bits. I think it’s brilliant that he’s going to take her name and well done, Lewis. He’s doing it for all the right reasons.

‘Obviously his mum and dad have been separated for many, many years but they both come to the same races, we see them both together and I think it’s fantastic what he’s doing.’

Speaking about her break-up with Anthony, Carmen once revealed: ‘Lewis was the best thing to come out of my marriage. [The split] didn’t damage Lewis.

‘He is probably better for it than if we had stuck together in an unhappy marriage. Tony wanted to be somebody and he has achieved that. I wanted the quiet life and that put a barrier between us. I couldn’t see myself in that busy, hectic lifestyle. 

‘But I didn’t stop him making sure Lewis got what he wanted. Without his dad’s constant, constant work he would not have been able to continue.’

In November 2020, Hamilton shared a gushing tribute to Carmen on her birthday, posting a slew of photos with her over the years. He wrote: ‘I want to take a moment to celebrate my mum today. Since the day you brought me into this world you showered me with love, showed me the importance of empathy, compassion and caring for others.

In a sign of the closeness of the bond between Hamilton and his mother Carmen, F1’s most famous face invited his mother Carmen to watch him receive his knighthood from Prince Charles at Windsor Castle in December

Hamilton with Anthony Hamilton (left), Linda Hamilton (centre left) and his mother Carmen (centre right) in 2019

Hamilton with Anthony Hamilton and his stepmother Linda Hamilton after his victory in Singapore in 2014

Lewis stood smiling next to his mother Carmen as he holds up a Union flag after a successful race

Born Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton, the future F1 star grew up in Stevenage to parents Anthony and Carmen 

Hamilton with his father Anthony Hamilton and his stepmother Linda Hamilton in Austin, Texas, 2012

Anthony Hamilton married second wife Linda and they had Lewis’ half-brother Nicolas

Hamilton is made a Knight Bachelor by the Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle, December 15, 2021

‘The unconditional love you’ve shown me is unmatched and I feel so lucky to have a mother as wonderful as you. You are the best part of me. Happy Birthday mum, I hope you have the best day.’

One snap saw Lewis hugging Carmen close to him with glee, while in another she stood smiling next to him as he held up a Union flag after a successful race.

In another picture, Carmen could be seen wrapping her arms around Lewis with an emotional expression on her face after he’d come top in another race.

According to House of Names, the Larbalestier name comes from Devon, where the family held a seat as Lords of the Manor. The site tells how the Saxon influence of English history diminished after the Battle of Hastings in 1066.

It adds: ‘The language of the courts was French for the next three centuries and the Norman ambience prevailed. But Saxon surnames survived and the family name was first referenced in the 13th century in Devon.’

Hamilton has made a series of public political statements in recent times. At the Qatar Grand Prix in November last year, he wore a rainbow helmet in solidarity with the LGBT community in the repressive Middle East country. Hamilton had demanded ‘scrutiny’ in Qatar, branding it ‘one of the worst’ for human rights. 

As the Black Lives Matter protests broke out across the West in 2020, Hamilton stressed the importance of ‘taking the knee’ and demanded that F1 and its governing body the FIA do more to tackle racial equality in the sport.

He singled out Romain Grosjean, former director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, for failing to convince the grid to be united on the subject of taking a knee.

Hamilton has also worn a number of controversial shirts, including one with the message ‘actions speak louder than words’ and another saying ‘Arrest the cops who killed Breonna Taylor’ – in reference to the black woman who was killed by police in Kentucky.

Hamilton claims he was ‘built for this’ fight against racial prejudice and vows to make matters better for other black youngsters across the world. 

The F1 ace is gearing up for his 16th season on the grid and bidding to avenge last year’s contentions championship defeat to Red Bull rival Max Verstappen. But following last week’s final test, Hamilton said he feared Mercedes were behind Red Bull and Ferrari in the pecking order and that his car would not be quick enough to fight for victories.

‘Bahrain is going to be tough,’ added Hamilton, who was speaking at Dubai Expo 2020 on Monday.

‘I am really hoping that when I get on the call this evening – with my team at Brackley and Brixworth – they have found some tricks and ways to extract more from this car.

British driver Lewis Hamilton, the only black driver in Formula One, has been outspoken about the importance of the gesture in the fight for equality

Hamilton some of the F1 drivers take a knee on the grid in support of Black Lives Matter at Red Bull Ring on July 5, 2020  in Spielberg, Austria

Hamilton showed off a new rainbow helmet ahead of the Qatar Grand Prix

George Russell, Mercedes, AMG F1 and team mate Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, AMG F1

‘There were a lot of cars that looked fast in testing. Alfa Romeo looked fast, Valtteri [Bottas] looked quick, and obviously the Red Bull looked ridiculously fast – but we are the best team.’   

Mercedes star Hamilton was, in the eyes of many, robbed at the death when Max Verstappen clinched his maiden F1 world title in 2021 on the final lap of the season, in a huge slice of luck and flimsy portrayal of the rule-book regarding lapped cars and the safety car.

Yet with talk of protests in the past, and 2021 race director Michael Masi removed from his post, Hamilton is now fully focussed on targeting a record-breaking eighth Championship once again, starting in Bahrain this weekend.

Former driver and Sky Sports F1 expert Martin Brundle has acknowledged ‘mistakes’ were made on the day in the season finale, but has no doubts that it is but a distant memory for 37-year-old Hamilton. 

‘It’s don’t get angry – get even!’, says Brundle, on a Zoom link from Sky Sports HQ in Osterley.

‘I can understand why he went on the missing list for a while on social media but I do think he’s back, he’s 37 years old but from what I saw of his driving last year, he was driving as well as I’ve ever seen him.

‘Clearly fitness is not an issue, the drivers don’t get so many big shunts these days with the knocks on the head. He is physically in great shape and I think he’ll be a force of nature when he comes back.’