These days, at any given race, it is not uncommon to see a small
army of familiar looking middle aged men stampeding around the
paddock. They don't play much of a part in building the cars,
working out strategy or changing the wheels, but they do fulfil a
unique supporting role. Yes, modern F1 is watched over by an array
of stressed looking fathers - many of whom become television
personalities in their own right. At Red Bull, Norbert Vettel and
Alan Webber have become part of the furniture. This can be said of
John Button down the road at McLaren, too. And until recently, the
same applied to Anthony Hamilton.
Anthony played a particularly unusual role: a former British
Rail worker turned manager of an F1 world champion. However, Lewis
Hamilton ended his professional association with his father last
season. A year long search for new guidance resulted in the
choosing of XIX Entertainment, which was established in 2010 by pop
mogul Simon Fuller. Acts signed to the management company include
Andy Murray, David Beckham and the Spice Girls. So why did Lewis
cast his father aside for a company that has never before dabbled
in motor racing of any kind?
Well, we can't really answer that because nobody really knows.
His move baffled people who thought the relationship between Lewis
and his father, although tense at times, was working for the
sport's youngest champion. Sure, the wins weren't all that abundant
in 2009, but that could hardly be blamed on Hamilton Senior. Still,
at the end of that rather barren year, Lewis ditched Anthony and
began negotiations with XIX in a bid to enhance his "long-term
career". He also spoke of trying to strengthen his personal links
with his father, which had become frayed by the high intensity
world of top level racing.
Since the day Anthony left the McLaren garage, Lewis has
appeared increasingly glum. At his very first solo venture in
Australia 2010, he became embroiled in the Liegate scandal and
seriously considered leaving the sport. The year had its ups and
downs, with a not-quite-there McLaren and a split with girlfriend
Nicole Scherzinger at the heart of what Lewis labelled his "worst
ever season". This year has been worse if anything, and Hamilton
has conceded that things "aren't right" in his head, and that he's
"not been getting the job done" following a barrage of mid-season
criticism over driving standards. There were talks of a prolonged
spat between Lewis and McLaren, and rarely has he looked as utterly
miserable as he did come Korea. The twenty six year old's camp
isn't currently a happy one.
Whether you put his attitude and mood this year down to
unfortunate situations he has gotten himself in to, the upper hand
that Button has clearly gained in the second half of the season,
the increasingly sour relationship with Felipe Massa, or simply the
frustrating inability to overcome Red Bull, the bottom line is that
he looks a completely different man to that of eighteen months ago.
Nobody wants to see him like that because frankly, whether you're a
fan of him or not, he's almost certainly one of the top three
drivers on the grid. We all know there is incredible potential for
domination, but applying it has become somewhat of a challenge for
Lewis this year.
Only two things have changed for Hamilton since his glorious
early years - the lack of championship winning car and the absence
of his father. McLaren are a professional racing team of the
highest order and will surely win again, but Hamilton needs the
honest and personal touch that his father offered at each grand
prix. XIX Entertainment don't send people out to each race for
support and guidance. They're not that kind of company. But a
personal manager in the form of his father, who's been with him
since day one, is someone he can really talk to. Someone he can
really discuss his feelings with. Someone who can remind him where
he came from and more importantly, where he's going. All the
commercial value in the world can't buy that sort of
satisfaction.
Hamilton's loss is Paul di Resta's gain. Now managed by Hamilton
Sr, he's a very calm, collected and articulate person - and fast to
boot. Much like what we saw from Lewis in his early years, infact.
His driving style has evolved throughout the year and he's proving
himself to be a very good driver in a car that is a solid midfield
runner. Not many drivers on the grid are currently out-performing
their machinery.
The stresses and strains of an F1 driver need to be marshalled
with caution. XIX Entertainment are not the ones who can do this:
they know little about racing, and they know little more about
Lewis. They are there to build a brand, not a person. Only when
Hamilton finds that father figure who truly cares about the man on
and off the track will we see him on the road to recovery. There's
so much left for Lewis to give - but it's going to take someone
special to unlock it.