Hamilton advises Verstappen on “unhelpful” family interference in F1

Speaking with the media on Wednesday, Lewis Hamilton issued a warning to Max Verstappen on the interference of parents in F1, with the advice coming in the wake of Jos Verstappen’s recent comments surrounding Christian Horner’s dismissed allegations of “inappropriate behaviour”. 

Across the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend, Jos Verstappen was quite vocal with his opinions of Horner’s impact on the team, stating that Red Bull would “explode” if Horner were to remain in his role as Team Principal.

Verstappen Snr also went on to add that the 50-year-old is “driving the team apart”, comments that were defended by his son who affirmed his father was “not a liar”.

“I don’t know the details of it so I don’t know what he’s basing these foundations off,” Hamilton said on the comments Jos Verstappen had made.

“But at the end of the day, he’s not a part of the team, he’s a parent and so that’s just an opinion, but it’s definitely not helpful.”

Christian Horner was seen having an animated conversation with Jos Verstappen at the Bahrain GP last weekend. Image: Mark Sutton / Sutton Images.

Hamilton is no stranger to family involvement, having experienced the highs and lows of it throughout his long career in motorsport, with his father Anthony Hamilton once fulfilling the role of Manager for the seven-time world champion.

“I think it is a very thin line to walk,” Hamilton said.

“It’s also dependent on your relationship with your parent.”

“You meet some people who have a great relationship with their parents, and they’ve been amazing parents, and then you’ve got people that have had bad relationships. 

“And this is not necessarily parents that have been good to them.”

“I don’t know about [Verstappen’s] relationships. 

“Obviously, you hear things here and there. 

“But Max is a grown man, and he’s a champion, and I’m sure he can make his own decisions.”

After winning his first title in 2008 at McLaren, it came as a shock to the F1 paddock when Hamilton announced a change in management in 2010. 

However, the change was not a shock to the Hamilton camp, with the family going through a tumultuous period as the #44 rose to unprecedented success.

In 2023, Hamilton revealed that his father found it hard to switch between the role of father and manager, ultimately leading to the end of their professional relationship.

Lewis Hamilton with his father after the controversial ending to the 2021 championship fight. Image: Zak Mauger / LAT Images.

“I think it was difficult for him to then show me love,” Hamilton said, speaking on the On Purpose podcast.

“Sometimes you just want a hug from your dad or, when you’re facing these things, you want to be able to be embraced.”

On Wednesday, Hamilton offered some words of advice to the three-time world champion.

“In our world, as drivers, it’s very, very easy to be misled by people whispering in your ear, and perhaps not guiding you always the right way.

“I’m not saying it’s the case there, because they’re doing great. 

“But I know in sports, other athletes that I’ve spoken to that I see, whether it’s in tennis – and I’ve experienced it – when you sometimes don’t have the right guidance around you, it leads to you either making the wrong decisions or not being able to perhaps be the best at what you do.

“It is very difficult because you want your parent to be your parent, and have a good relationship. 

“But when business is involved, it makes it really difficult.”

However, he didn’t discredit the mind of Max Verstappen, adding that that was “clearly not the case there, he’s performing well”.

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Hooray, F1 is back. Boo, Max Verstappen wins. The Bahrain Grand Prix was a little underwhelming, but at least there was racing… and scandal. There was plenty of scandal, but we don’t do that stuff apparently, so we don’t talk about Red Bull Racing, Christian Horner and Jos Verstappen.