Lewis Hamilton's father set for shock FIA role

Lewis Hamilton's father, Anthony Hamilton, is reportedly set to take on a new role with the FIA, focusing on young driver development. Hamilton has been working with FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem for the past 18 months on the Young Driver Development Pathway initiative, which is expected to launch officially next month.

Why it matters: This move could see Anthony Hamilton, who guided his son Lewis through his junior racing career, play a significant role in shaping the future of motorsport talent.

The details:

• Hamilton's work on the development pathway has apparently earned him an official position with the governing body.
• He is keen to leverage his experience to protect and nurture young talent.
• He recently received praise for comforting Isack Hadjar after his crash in Australia.

The context: The FIA presidency under Mohammed Ben Sulayem has faced some turbulence, including resignations, with new elections due this year. The Times suggests Hamilton's new role could be seen as an attempt by Ben Sulayem to garner support from the racing community, despite Lewis Hamilton's past claims of encountering racially-tinged remarks from the FIA president.

What's next: Anthony Hamilton is no longer actively managing Lewis's career, which could help mitigate potential conflicts of interest. The official launch of the Young Driver Development Pathway next month will shed more light on the specifics of his new role.