F1 Champion Lewis Hamilton to Honor Mother by Legally Using Her Family Name

F1 champion Lewis Hamilton has announced that he will be changing his legal name to incorporate Larbalestier, his mother's family name, Carmen Larbalestier.

The British driving superstar, whose current complete name is Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton, said that he wants his mom's surname before she got married to live on with his legacy as a seven-time world champion of Formula One.

Speaking with the press before the season-opening of the elite motor racing event, Hamilton, whose father is Anthony Hamilton, said he doesn't know why many women drop their surname after marrying. Though he is proud of "Hamilton," the racer said he would also like to carry "Larbalestier" as he aims for his eighth F1 championship title for 2022.

"I really want her name to continue on with the Hamilton name," the Mercedes top driver said, per CNN. He hinted that his people would be working on the name addition when they get back to England.

Lewis Hamilton's Mixed-Race Family

Lewis, 37, was raised in Hertfordshire and lived with his mother, a Caucasian, until he was 12 years old. Carmen split with the racer's father, a Black and of Grenadian descent, when Lewis was only two years old.

Both his parents remarried, and Lewis grew up with his half-siblings on both sides of his family. Lewis and Anthony bonded over their love for races when he moved to live with his father. Anthony initiated his son to try karting as a young boy, which strengthened their father-son bond further as they spent weekends joining competitions.

David Croft, the F1 commentator for Sky News, said that Lewis' decision to use Larbalestier is "fantastic." He added that though Lewis is very close to his father, he loves his mother "to bits." Croft also said that he has seen both parents watch their son's races together with their respective partners.

In December 2021, Lewis was knighted by Queen Elizabeth, and it was his mother who joined him at the ceremony led by Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, at Windsor Castle. The F1 champion also openly commended his mother for being a wonderful and loving person.

A year before his knighthood, Lewis told People that a lot of his success was due to his father, who never doubted his abilities. The racer said that Anthony is his real-life hero because he sacrificed his time and even his savings so that his son could pursue his dreams of being the best in Formula One.

Carmen Appreciates Anthony

Meanwhile, Carmen has also expressed no bitter feelings for Anthony despite their marriage not working out. She said in one interview that she and Anthony had different aspirations when they were together, and they didn't want to stay stuck as an unhappy couple.

However, they both got the best thing out of that marriage with Lewis. Carmen also said that she appreciates how much Anthony has made an effort to work with their son to improve his driving skills.

According to Daily Mail, the surname Larbalestier originated in Devon in the time of the Saxons in the 13th century. However, Lewis has also identified as Black and became the first Black guy to race in Formula One.