Lewis Hamilton’s father, Anthony, is set to be appointed to a role in the FIA’s young driver programme, following 18 months of advisory work alongside president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
As first reported by The Times, Hamilton Sr’s appointment will be confirmed during next month’s FIA Conference in Macau, where the governing body is expected to officially launch its new Young Driver Development Pathway. The initiative aims to offer a more structured and ethical route for drivers from grassroots motorsport to the professional ranks.
The move comes amid growing scrutiny over the accessibility and transparency of young driver systems, and Hamilton Sr – who famously managed his son’s journey from karting to Formula 1 – is expected to bring valuable insight from his personal experience.
It is understood that Hamilton Sr’s involvement is entirely separate from Lewis Hamilton’s well-publicised clashes with Ben Sulayem’s leadership.
Their relationship has often been strained, particularly since 2023 when the FIA introduced a crackdown on driver swearing over team radio.
Lewis Hamilton was among several drivers to criticise the move, which he claimed carried deeper implications after Ben Sulayem appeared to liken Formula 1 drivers to “rappers”.
“I hadn’t seen it, so I don’t know where it’s stemming from. I mean, it is ridiculous. I don’t really know,” Hamilton said this week when asked about the latest changes.
“Nothing I say is going to make any difference to it. It seems a bit of a mess there at the moment. So, yeah, there’s lots of changes that are needed, for sure.”
The president has since scaled back the initial plan, describing the revised version as an “improvement”, though communication with the drivers remains strained.
Grand Prix Drivers’ Association director George Russell added: “We’ve still had no correspondence with anyone from the senior level at the FIA. So yeah, it’s all a bit suspect.
“It seems more challenging than it should be really, but we’ve all put our views forward.”
Hamilton Sr’s role will focus on helping the FIA improve its support systems for young drivers, with a particular emphasis on fairness and safeguarding.
The new development pathway is intended to better protect drivers from exploitative management deals and offer clearer stepping stones toward a racing career.
Meanwhile, FIA politics continue to simmer in the background. Mohammed Ben Sulayem is up for re-election at the end of 2025, and while no challengers have officially declared, Carlos Sainz Sr – the two-time World Rally Champion and father of Williams F1 driver Carlos Sainz – has confirmed he is considering a run after being approached by senior figures.
Sainz Sr has already addressed concerns over a possible conflict of interest, stating that if he runs and is elected, he would remove himself from any involvement in his son’s F1 career.
“This will not be an issue,” he said last week. “He’s not a child anymore… if I go ahead with this project our relationship will change, of course.”
Anthony Hamilton’s appointment signals a new chapter in the FIA’s development structure, and while he won’t be involved in political decisions, his high-profile name adds further visibility to the federation’s push for reform and transparency at the grassroots level.
READ MORE – Carlos Sainz backs father to bring ‘common sense’ and cut politics from the FIA
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