Dubai: “My mum is my best friend,” said a beaming F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton as he goes back in time.
Hamilton’s parents Anthony and Carmen Lockhart separated amicably when junior was just two years old.
Even though the parents decided on separating, they also agreed that young Lewis would have the privilege of a normal upbringing including access to both. “I started karting seriously when I was eight years old, so till then I continued to live with my mum. And then when it was time for me to actually take up motorsport on a full-time basis, I remember my dad coming to my mum and telling her that he could create an opportunity for me in sport,” he recalls of days gone by.
“She was the person who sat down and read books with me. She is the one who gave me the confidence that she felt was being taken away from me. Most often I preferred beingin my shell, but my mum was the one who was always there to pull me up and convince me on how special I was,” he adds.
Living with his step-mother Linda during a major part of his growing-up years, Hamilton had to literally master the fine art of what he terms “the art of finding the right balance”.
“My mum likes to be in the background. When my dad re-married it was a very difficult and awkward time for me. Till the mid-20s I was still struggling to find this balance with my family. It was just such a huge issue, but mums are mums and she always put me first and my love and appreciation for her grew,” he recalls.
“Today, my mum and I party together and we travel together at different race venues. She is my rock.”
