Lewis Hamilton’s brutal decision ‘devastated’ his father: ‘Like something had died’

Lando Norris reveals the advice Lewis Hamilton gave him

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The race for the Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship is hotting up. Lewis Hamilton secured pole position for Sunday’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in a scrappy qualifying session. Current championship leader Max Verstappen crashed into a wall on his final lap, desperately trying to beat his British rival’s time.

The Red Bull man will now start Sunday’s race in third after Valtteri Bottas pipped him to the front row.

Verstappen leads Hamilton by eight points with two races remaining. The Dutchman can afford to finish second behind the Mercedes man in Jeddah, and still be more or less level on points going into the final race of the season.

Hamilton has won six of the last seven Drivers’ Championships, all for Mercedes, who he joined in 2013.

He had been at McLaren before this, spending much of that time with his dad by his side as manager.

Anthony Hamilton had, at times, juggled four jobs at a time while still attending his son’s races.

From his first remote-control car race as a five-year-old, to go-karting, right up to Lewis’ first Drivers’ Championship in 2008, the pair had been inseparable.

That was until 2010 at least.

Speaking to the Sunday Mirror in 2012, two years after the split, Anthony said: “It was a nightmare.

“It was like something had died. I was shocked, devastated.

“When he said he no longer wanted me as manager it came completely out of the blue because we hadn’t fallen out. I didn’t get angry — but I didn’t deal with it very well.

“I’d been at his side from his first remote-control car race when he was five.

“Every week, week-in week-out, I’d put my life into it. That day was a life-changing experience.”

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Speculation had been rife that Lewis’ then-girlfriend Nicole Sherzinger had told the F1 star to give his dad the boot as boss.

Anthony sought to put these rumours to bed, saying he didn’t believe “for one minute” that Nicole would do that.

Reflecting back on the split, Anthony admitted his son did make the right decision.

He said: “Lewis was right to go his own way. Was it right the way it happened? Probably not.

“If I’d had my way it would have been done differently. But it is what it is.”

He added: “It had to happen at some stage.”

Heartbreakingly, Anthony admitted he was left not knowing what to do with himself, as all he had ever known was helping Lewis follow his racing dreams.

In the interview, Anthony said his life is “better” on reflection, conceding that he had “done his bit”.

He finished the interview: “And the best present Lewis could give me now is to win another world championship.”

Lewis certainly managed that, and reflected on the role his father had played in his life after equalling Michael Schumacher’s record of seven F1 titles.

He recalled: “I came across the line, and all the things about me and my dad — when we went away from our first championship singing ‘We Are the Champions,’ the struggles that we had — it just flashed through my mind, and all this emotion came up.

“There were times where we didn’t think we were going to be there. We were not going to make it… They were worrying times, but he never doubted me once.

“I felt proud that hopefully he’s watching and is like, ‘It was worth it.”

Watch the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix live on Sky Sports Main Event at 5:25pm on Sunday.

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