Lewis Hamilton said yesterday that he believed his father, Anthony, is the best manager in Formula One and he rejected suggestions that working with him could risk damaging the close bond they have.

Hamilton is unique for a sportsman of his stature in that he has only one manager and no agent and the person who fulfils that role is his father, the man who has guided his career since he started in go-karts when he was a boy.

Recently, Sir Jackie Stewart expressed concern that as his career progresses, the pressures on Hamilton and his father could damage their relationship, but the McLaren driver is not worried. “It has done in the past, but that's just because he wants the best for me and I guess in any working relationship [with a parent], it's harder because there is a lot more emotion involved,” he said.

“But we've learnt to work around it and I have no doubts in my mind that my father is the best manager there is in the paddock - I have no doubts about it. You should see him in action. He's very, very good.”

The pair have established a modus operandi in which Hamilton Sr leaves the driving and the issues around it to his son and takes care of all the other matters, such as sponsorship, contract negotiations, helping with his itinerary and sorting out logistics, including renting the apartment that Hamilton has recently taken near Geneva.

Hamilton said that most of the fathers he has come across in junior formulas were not ideally suited to the job of managing their son's careers and he paid this tribute to Anthony: “It's the morals my dad has. He does things for the right reasons, rather than for money or to better himself. He's helped quite a few drivers when they have asked for [money]. I can't say who, but that's the way my dad is. He does things for the right reasons and that's why he's my manager.”

Hamilton also revealed that, as his career started to take off, he sat down with his father and asked him whether he wanted to continue his managerial role. “I had to ask him at one point, ‘Dad, do you still want to do this? And, if not, don't feel bad, let's just work hard at finding someone to take over.' But he loves doing this.

“My dad loves being busy, so I'm very, very happy and very fortunate. He's stuck by me and I'd say the reason I've been so successful is because of my dad. He has brought me up and my dad has been there for me and helped me avoid all the traps.”