Lewis Hamilton has revealed exactly how he will be adopting his mother’s name. The seven-times world champion caused a stir recently when he revealed that he had decided to change his name to honour his 66-year-old mum Carmen Larbalestier.
It was widely assumed he would take a double-barrelled surname but, in Bahrain on Saturday, he confirmed that he will have an extra name once the legalities are complete. Hamilton, 37, explained: “I spent Christmas with all of my immediate family. My mum, my step-mum, my dad, my two sisters, my brother.
“I thought of it for a long time. I’ve always been very, very close to my parents and both mums have always been absolutely incredible. Thanks to them, I’ve grown up with so much respect for women.”
Hamilton’s grandad on his mother’s side passed away and that accelerated his plan to adopt his mum’s name. “I already have my grandad’s name from my Dad’s side in mine - Davidson - and I wanted my mum and grandad’s name.
“It was going to be a surprise, I was going to tell her first but I let it slip out. My mum was very happy, proud and emotional. I have already applied. It won’t be a surname - it will be an addition to my middle name.”
And Hamilton said it had not been intended as a special Mother’s Day surprise. He said: “No, I don’t remember any of those days - it’s always a Mother’s Day for me.
“It’s about embracing your own family. You only have one and there will never be any people like your family. I want my family’s names to transcend hopefully down to the next generation and I don’t want my mum’s name to be forgotten.”
When the legal side of the change is sorted, the driver’s full name will be Lewis Carl Davidson Larbalestier Hamilton... but not necessarily in that order.
