26/09/2011
NEWS STORY
As Lewis Hamilton suffers another difficult weekend, his father suggests his management company should be doing more to support the youngster.
It's ironic that on a weekend the 2008 world champion finds himself embroiled in yet more controversy, Paul di Resta, who is managed by Lewis' father, Anthony, is roundly seen as the man of the race, following another spirited performance.
Though he no longer manages his son, Anthony Hamilton is clearly concerned that Lewis is making the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
"His management need to do more," he told BBC Sport following Sunday's race. "Look up the paddock; every driver that's got a manager, the manager is here and in the driver's life."
In March, Hamilton revealed that he had appointed Simon Fuller's XIX Entertainment as his new management company. Fuller, who also manages David Beckham and Andy Murray previously managed the Spice Girls. However, in terms of F1 he will always be remembered for the infamous My Earth Dreams concept - an attempt to give the Honda F1 team a "youth orientated buzz" when in reality the idea was to attempt mask the Brackley based outfit's failure to attract sponsorship.
It was exactly a year earlier that Lewis ended his management agreement with his father, an agreement that saw Anthony help guide him from Karting right through to winning the 2008 title.
Since recruiting XIX there has been concern that the McLaren driver has been focussing too much on off-track interests such as show-biz pals and trying to create a Hamilton brand, while it is said that his unease with the amount of promotional work he does for his team is because Fuller has more lucrative deals on offer.
Whatever way one looks at it, despite being a fabulous no-nonsense racer, Hamilton is now trailing his teammate in the championship with another Briton taking huge steps into the limelight.