Hamilton looking for new manager?

Ron Dennis has rubbished suggestions that a growing rift is developing between McLaren-Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton and the young Briton's manager father Anthony.

Though all seemed well following Hamilton's flawless victory in front of his adoring home fans at Silverstone at the weekend, The Times has claimed that – despite their history that stretches all the way back to 1996, when the now 23-year-old was picked up by McLaren whilst still in karting – there has been a breakdown in relations with the Hamilton camp.

The report moreover hinted that Lewis and Anthony Hamilton ‘do not get along' with the Woking-based outfit's new head of communications, Matt Bishop – an argument Dennis refuted point-blank.


“That's not worthy of comment,” the 61-year-old McLaren team principal is quoted by F1SA as having responded to reporters. “Everybody knows we are very close. I've always taken a personal interest in Lewis' career, so those suggestions are without any foundation.”

Meanwhile, there was also speculation over the weekend of the British Grand Prix that the current Formula 1 joint world championship leader is finally considering taking on a professional manager.

Anthony Hamilton was seen in deep conversation with Julian Jakobi – Juan-Pablo Montoya's former manager who is most famous for having worked simultaneously with multiple world champions, McLaren team-mates and bitter rivals Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna.

The Hamiltons have denied the rumour, whilst Anthony had previously stated back in May: “I haven't met an agent who can offer us anything we can't do ourselves.”

http://www.crash.net/motorsport/f1/news/165898-0/hamilton_no_rift_with_mclaren_seeking_manager.html




I think a new manager would do him some good. There is something about his dad I don't like.

 

Its the fact that he cannot step back and allow his son to be a man. He has to let go and allow Lewis win or lose on his own. No one likes to deal with the parents in little league, imagine having to deal with the parents in the pinnicle of motorsports.

Mark

 

His dad created the horrible situation in Hungary which ultimately led to the 100 mio penalty. That guy is scum and he should be gone.

 

Is the head of communications the same Matt Bishop that wrote puff pieces for the English car rags? Oil and water, those two gents most likely...
CH

 

Same guy.

 

This should be LH's #1 priority

 

IMO he should have gotten rid of his dad as a manager a long time ago hopefully the rumors are true.

 

Watch the DVD about Hamilton's career until the end of last season. His father seemed better that 99% of the racing dad's to me. Hamilton is grounded by having his younger step-brother, step-mother and father around him. They have been with him all the way. Hamilton calls his own shots and has for a long time.

 

I don't remember the situation having a lot to do with AH

what makes you say this Andreas ?

I would love to have my dad as my manager mainly because I know I could trust him, there have been a lot of high flyers ripped off over the years so only natural to lean towards the family

 

I agree. :O

I can not imagine LH dissing the press recently unless it was induced by his father. I want to believe that LH is really the nice kid he appeared to be in 2007. I find his father´s constant angry facial expression to be ridiculous.

Hamilton could become something big without his anal father always hanging around.

 

you can't blame his dad for wanting to be his agent. he's basically become a celebrity without having to do anything almost anyone else would do the same.

i also can't argue with the results lewis' father has gotten him. a huge mclaren contract plus a big reebok contract. they're getting good results and keeping all the money in the family looks very smart to me.

 

Oh really?

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=203917

 

If you read the Press Conference transcript that led up to the Triathalon battle you'll see Hamilton didn't really want to do it. It is likely he just got his Dad to deliver the bad news and appear as the party pooper

 

Linking to a thread of hate is hardly any type of evidence now is it

 

why does everyone hates Ant Hammi so much here? did i miss anything?

 

I have a theory, but i fear that i would be lynched if i posted it

 

My number is in the book, he can call me any time.

 

At USGP last year I met both Hamilton's dad and Button's dad having a beer at St. Elmo's steakhouse. They both were very friendly and willing to chat.
Not sure what he has done to draw so much ire.
If my son was an F1 superstar I'd do what I could to be involved in his life (as I would in every other area he may pursue). If McLaren is willing to throw huge noney at you, and many sponsors, not sure how much a real agent may add on top...though obviously this isn't an industry I know anything about.

BTW: We went up to Ron Dennis at the dinner table and said we'd be driving for him in 10 years....and he didn't even have the decency to laugh!!
LOL!

 

As the Hungarian GP came around, Hamilton's dad decided it was time to up the ante on his son's contract, read more money (remember, Lewis was hired for "nothing", but because of his super talent immediately brought back results way beyond any rookie). So he started negotiations, but Dennis was firm on his stand because after all, it was the McLaren factory that assembled and programmed Lewis-Bot over the past years. Anyhow, the dad created more and more pressure and eventually got his son to show the McLaren team who is boss: Despite an agreement, Lewis did not let Alonso pass in qualifying to have a free track ahead of him. That was an arrangement made back at the British GP where it was only natural that a British driver should get the better cards. Now it was Alonso's time, yet Lewis refused to let him by. That infuriated Alonso to no end and eventually led him to blow the whistle on Stepneygate.
Furthermore Lewis played stupid by pretending he was hindered by Alonso's fuel stop in qualifying. That was just show because in reality there was no time left on the clock for him to go out again and get in a lap. The result was however that the media and fans bought it and posters went up on raceday stating "Unfair-nando". Humbug, it was all show and a lie. The real bad guy was the rookie and his dad.

Finally there was the whole PR disaster at the McLaren press conference where again Hamilton managed to infuriate Alonso to the max.

It was all orchestrated by his dad. They didn't want Alonso to blow his cool and come out with Stepneygate. Their intention was to destabilize the team so that Dennis would realize that he had to come back to the contract negotiations table. Well, they managed to destabilize the team...

 

I remember Varsha and clan commenting that the time wasted was just enough to prevent the ability to put in a fresh lap, by just a few seconds. In fact they made a big point of it that had Lewis got out with a regular stop he would have had time to get around for a new lap. It was obvious what Alonso was doing, no pit stop looks like that, ever.

 

Sounds interesting but I don't recall ever seeing this in any publication or website. Do you have a source you can reference?

 

thanks, but is there any evidence AH stooped to this level or is it just press conjecture ?

Remember RD has been a hard negotiator with many high flyers and surely AH is just a novice in this situation

I can imagine it happening that way but it seems hard to believe that a guy in his rookie year would have his father jeopadise his future by pulling such a stunt on purpose

I am getting a lot more respect for FA following the revelations of last years events, I would have done the same thing put in his predicament

 

Then why did he agree to it in the first place? BS, that was his dad telling him not to do it. It doesn't take a genius to figure that one out.

 

Where's there is paper, there is ink.
I dont particularly like AH, but who are we to say he should butt out now.

It's a hard call, but he may well fair better with a manager, that has a more distanced and experienced approach.