Welcome at RacingNews365

Become part of the largest racing community in the United Kingdom. Create your free account now!

  • Share your thoughts and opinions about F1
  • Win fantastic prizes
  • Get access to our premium content
  • Take advantage of more exclusive benefits
Sign in
Lewis Hamilton

Why Hamilton decided to change his name

It has not officially been finalised, but Lewis Hamilton started the process of changing his name for personal reasons.

Hamilton Abu Dhabi
Article
To news overview © XPBimages

Back in early 2022, Lewis Hamilton announced that he had begun the process of changing his name, in honour of his mother.

As is tradition in the United Kingdom, Hamilton took his father Anthony's surname on birth, with his mother, Carmen Larbalestier's name not being recognised.

The Ferrari driver revealed back in 2022 that he was planning on changing his name to add Larbalestier in, but whether the change has been made has not been publicly revealed, nearly three years on. 

""I’m really proud of my family’s name: Hamilton," he said at the time. 

"Actually, none of you might know that my mum’s name is Larbalestier, and I’m just about to put that in my name.

"Because I don’t really fully understand the whole idea of why, when people get married, the woman loses her name. I really want her name to continue on with the Hamilton name."

On the official FIA entry list, Hamilton is listed simply as 'Lewis Hamilton.'

Also interesting:

Join RacingNews365's Ian Parkes, Sam Coop and Nick Golding in the first podcast episode of 2025! Lewis Hamilton becoming a Ferrari driver is a key talking point, as is the beginning of Red Bull's new era following the exit of Sergio Perez.

Rather watch the podcast? Then click here!

Join the conversation!

x
EXCLUSIVE Verstappen opens up on impact of 'second father' in F1