Anthony Hamilton and Carmen Larbalestier split when Lewis was just a toddler

Carmen Larbalestier and Lewis Hamilton attend 2016 Time 100 Gala on April 26, 2016 in New York City. ; Lewis Hamilton and Anthony Hamilton launch the first Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy at Mercedes-Benz World on June 13, 2009. . PHOTO:

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Lewis Hamilton dreamed of being a Formula 1 driver since he was a child — and his parents helped make that dream a reality.

The British F1 driver is the son of Anthony Hamilton and Carmen Larbalestier, who both helped foster his love for racing from a young age. It was Anthony who took Lewis on his first go-kart ride at just 3 years old and who gifted his son a second-hand go-kart when he was 8. By 10, Lewis had won his first British karting championship — and his parents (who split when he was 2 years old) decided shortly after that he should move in with his father to focus on his racing.

From there, Lewis’ racing became a family affair. His father not only worked multiple jobs to help finance Lewis’ passion, but also traveled with his son every weekend to races across the U.K. (where they were often up against young racers from wealthy families with better supplies and training). Both his mother, Carmen, and stepmother, Linda, “held us together through the tough times,” Lewis wrote on Instagram in August 2020.

But the dedication by Lewis and his parents paid off: Lewis was signed by McLaren in 1998 when he was just 13 years old. In 2007, he made his F1 debut, becoming the sport’s first-ever Black driver. And by 2020 — at just 35 years old — Lewis was Formula 1’s winningest driver of all time, with a record-setting 103 wins and seven world championships (tied for the most with racing legend Michael Schumacher) under his belt. He is currently gearing up for his 18th Formula 1 season, which kicks off with the Bahrain Grand Prix on Feb. 29.

“I honestly do not think I would be where I am today if my parents and step-parents had not worked hard together,” Lewis wrote in his 2007 autobiography Lewis Hamilton: My Story.

So who are Anthony Hamilton and Carmen Larbalestier? Here is everything to know about the racing legend’s parents.

Anthony and Carmen split when Lewis was a toddler

Anthony Hamilton, Nicholas Hamilton, Carmen Larbalestier, Lewis Hamilton, and Linda Hamilton.

LEWIS HAMILTON INSTAGRAM

Lewis’ parents have been divorced for most of his life: Anthony and Carmen called it quits in 1987 when Lewis was just 2 years old. According to Carmen, their marriage ended because they each wanted different things out of life.

“Tony wanted to be somebody and … I wanted the quiet life and that put a barrier between us,” Carmen said, according to The Sun. “I couldn’t see myself in that busy, hectic lifestyle.”

Carmen, who has maintained a positive relationship with her ex-husband, also insisted that their split “didn’t damage Lewis” — a statement the Formula 1 champion has agreed with over the years.

“Lewis was the best thing to come out of my marriage,” Carmen said, per The Sun. “He is probably better for it than if we had stuck together in an unhappy marriage.”

Lewis echoed similar sentiments in his 2007 autobiography, Lewis Hamilton: My Story.

“I was so young … that I did not understand what had gone on between my parents,” he wrote.

Lewis lived with his mother Carmen until he was 10 years old

Lewis Hamilton celebrates with his mother Carmen Larbalestier after winning his fourth F1 World Drivers Championship after the Formula One Grand Prix of Mexico on October 29, 2017.

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Following his parents’ divorce, Lewis lived outside of London with his mother, Carmen, and his two older half-sisters, Nicola and Samantha Lockhart (who were from a previous relationship of Carmen’s). However, even when he was living primarily with Carmen, Lewis still spent most weekends with his father, Anthony — who “didn’t know what to do with this little energized kid running around,” Lewis told PEOPLE in 2020. But Lewis still treasured those visits with his father.

“I was very emotionally attached to my dad, and it was difficult only seeing him at the weekends,” he wrote in Lewis Hamilton: My Story. “They were the greatest weekends — I would not have missed them for anything.”

Lewis remained living with Carmen until he was about 10 years old, when his parents decided he should move in with Anthony and his stepmother, Linda, to better support his racing talents, according to Vanity Fair. However, Lewis remained close with his mother — even referring to her as “the best part of me” in a sweet Instagram post from November 2020.

“The unconditional love you’ve shown me is unmatched and I feel so lucky to have a mother as wonderful as you,” he added in the sentimental caption.

Anthony remarried and had another son

Lewis Hamilton with his father Anthony, step-mom Linda, and brother Nicholas.

LEWIS HAMILTON INSTAGRAM

Anthony began a relationship with Linda Hamilton, a co-worker of his at British Rail, shortly after his divorce from Carmen. The two eventually married and Linda became Lewis’ stepmother.

Anthony and Linda welcomed a son of their own, named Nicolas, in 1992. Nicolas was born two months premature, according to Lewis’ autobiography, and was diagnosed with cerebral palsy as a toddler.

“I had prayed to have a brother and was so happy when he came into the world,” Lewis wrote about Nicolas in his autobiography. “It really meant a lot to me, in my childhood, to have a brother. And it still does.”

Lewis has also had a close relationship with his stepmother Linda, calling her “the best step-mum in the world” in Lewis Hamilton: My Story and frequently praising her on social media. In an Instagram post from Mother’s Day 2022, he shared a touching tribute to his stepmother — who was instrumental in helping raise him and launching his racing career.

“Without her I wouldn’t be the man I am today,” Lewis wrote alongside a photo of him and Linda. “When you see me you see her. Making her proud is truly one of the best feelings in the world.”

Anthony introduced Lewis to go-karts and racing

Lewis Hamilton.

LEWIS HAMILTON INSTAGRAM

Anthony was the one to first expose Lewis to go-karts and the world of racing. In 1988, when Lewis was just 3 years old, Anthony and Linda took him on a summer vacation to Ibiza. While they were there, they took Lewis to a small “kiddie” kart track — and Lewis fell in love, he recalled in his autobiography Lewis Hamilton: My Story.

“I loved it,” he wrote. “I got in a kart and straightaway I knew I was going to enjoy it.”

Anthony fostered that love by getting Lewis a remote control car when he was 5 years old, which he would race at local clubs on weekends. Within a year, Lewis was beating out adults, earning awards from racing clubs and even appearing on BBC for his toy car racing talents.

“I was consciously hooked on cars from that point,” Lewis recalled.

Anthony further indulged his son’s hobby by buying him his first go-kart for Christmas when he was 8 years old. Anthony purchased it second-hand and refurbished it, making it “as good as new,” according to Lewis. From that point, Lewis’ karting career began — and “the rest is history,” he wrote.

Anthony worked multiple jobs to support Lewis’ racing ambitions

Lewis Hamilton celebrates winning the GP2 championship with his father Anthony Hamilton at the Autodromo di Monza on September 10, 2006 in Monza, Italy.

MARK THOMPSON/GETTY

Lewis has referred to Formula 1 racing as a “billionaire’s boys club,” according to the BBC — but the seven-time world champion came from much more humble roots. Growing up in a “normal working-class family,” Lewis has opened up on several occasions about how his father supported his racing hobby and career from a young age.

“My dad, and my family, have made more sacrifices than you would believe,” he wrote in his autobiography.

Those sacrifices included Anthony working multiple jobs, remortgaging his home and pouring their savings into Lewis’ racing.

“My dad, he never went out,” Lewis shared with PEOPLE in November 2020. “He never had new clothes. He wasn’t saving up to buy anything new. Everything — remortgaging the house multiple times — went into go-karting, which sounds crazy.”

He added, “It is crazy, but he believed so much in me.”

Lewis paid tribute to his family’s (particularly his father’s) unwavering support over the years in an Instagram post from August 2020. The post, which shared an image of Lewis and his family from one of his racing victories at 15, recalled what it took — from both Lewis and his family — for him to achieve success in the racing world.

“So many of you see the success today perhaps without the knowledge of how I got there,” Lewis shared in the caption. “My father worked 4 jobs to keep me racing in the early stages. We didn’t always have the best equipment but we did it as a family.”

Lewis fired Anthony as his manager in 2010

Lewis Hamilton and Anthony Hamilton.

LEWIS HAMILTON INSTAGRAM

When Lewis began racing in Formula 1 in 2007, his father — who had been by his side throughout his rise in the motorsport — served as his manager. But by 2010, Lewis had fired his father right before the Bahrain Grand Prix, according to the Daily Mail.

Lewis opened up about the decision to let his father go on the On Purpose podcast in January 2023. He revealed that, because of their professional relationship, it became “difficult” for his father to show him love or affection. The F1 champion also added that he and his father had “bumped heads” when it came to decision-making.

“I decided to part ways with my dad to make decisions for myself,” Lewis said on the podcast. “There was a period where we spoke less.”

However, their professional split ultimately helped to repair their father-son connection.

“I really just wanted him to be my dad. Let’s go and have fun, let’s laugh. We hadn’t had that for a long, long time,” Lewis shared.

He added, “We have worked hard to come back together. He’s now the first person I call when I finish a race.”

Lewis changed his last name to honor his mother, Carmen

Lewis Hamilton and Carmen Larbalestier.

LEWIS HAMILTON INSTAGRAM

In 2022, Lewis announced he would be changing his last name to honor his mother, Carmen. Though he was known to the world as Lewis Hamilton, he revealed at the 2022 Dubai Expo that he would be incorporating his mother’s maiden name — Larbalestier — into his own.

“I’m really proud of my family’s name, Hamilton,” he said at the event, per Sky Sports. “None of you might know that my mum’s name is Larbalestier, and I am just about to put that in my name.”

Lewis added, “I don’t fully understand the idea that when people get married, the woman loses their name and I really want my mum’s name to continue on with the Hamilton name.”

Carmen attended Lewis’ knighting ceremony

Lewis Hamilton stands with his mother Carmen Larbalestier after being appointed as a Knight Bachelor (Knighthood) for services to motorsports at Windsor Castle in Windsor, west of London on December 15, 2021.

ANDREW MATTHEWS/POOL/AFP/GETTY

Carmen has witnessed her son win multiple F1 championships — but in December 2021, she was by Lewis’ side as he was knighted by then-Prince Charles at Windsor Castle in London.

The honor (which recognizes achievements and contributions in one’s field) was given to Lewis after he matched former German race car driver Michael Schumacher’s record for seven F1 championships. Lewis is only the fourth F1 driver to be bestowed the honor, according to the racing organization.

Carmen proudly posed for photographs alongside her newly-knighted son following the ceremony.

Lewis credits his father, Anthony, with his success

Lewis Hamilton celebrates with his father Anthony Hamilton following his second place finish in the Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix at the Bahrain International Circuit on April 15, 2007.

MARK THOMPSON/GETTY

Lewis has strived to be the best Formula 1 driver since he was a child, he told Complex in 2016 — and he credits his father, Anthony, with helping him achieve that.

“People see me winning these championships but I think the important story really is that father-son, or son of a parent, story which so many people across the world, in America and the U.K., can relate to, because we did it as a family,” Lewis told PEOPLE in 2020.

Anthony was so instrumental in Lewis’ success that when he won at the 2020 Turkish Grand Prix — and secured his historic seventh F1 championship win — his father was the first person to cross his mind.

“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,” Lewis told PEOPLE. “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.”

Lewis added, “He’s the real hero, but obviously I’m the one that gets to stand on top of the podium at the end.”