Often not yet completely independent financially, without the maturity which redefines the relationship between the older parent and adult child, but having shaken off the disrespectful teenage attitude towards his father, a young man will often do very much as his father says.

Anybody who saw Anthony Hamilton in the McLaren pits at Magny Cours, his son having been demoted ten places on the grid AND then suffered a drive-through procedure for having taken a chicane like Richard Hammond on speed, will know that he was fuming!

Lewis is going to do just what his father says right now.

So here are my ten reasons why Lewis Hamilton will win on Sunday:

1. He has one of the best two cars on the grid
2. He has immense racing experience for such a young man
3. The British crowd will give him an extra 0.2 seconds per lap
4. The McLaren mechanics are the best in the sport
5. Lewis knows the Silverstone track like the back of his hand
6. His father might get access to the team radio: “Lewis, into the pits next lap to change to the soft tyres. By the way, what time did you get in last night?”
7. His father has already cleared a space on the mantelpiece for the trophy
8. His father will confiscate Lewis’s pocket money if he doesn’t win
9. Dad will borrow Lewis’s car if he does not win, and Anthony unfortunately crashed a friend’s Porsche Carrera GT last month
10. My friend Ian says that Lewis will win

I don’t know whether Mr Hamilton senior ever drove grand prix cars, but the Porsche incident implies that he did not. There have, however, been plenty of families involved in motor racing. Graham and Damon Hill are well known (although their second cousin Benny came to grief driving the fastest milkcart in the West), as are the Villeneuves, Michael and Ralf Schumacher and the Andrettis.

Less well known in racing circles are:

• Jackie Stewart’s son, Andy, who went on to great fame singing at Hogmanay.
• Stirling Moss and his daughter, Kate, who is well used to speed.
• James Hunt and his son Mike, though nothing much is known about him.

Here Is The Writer : Peter Haines

Peter Haines has more than 20 years of experience in regulation and compliance, which he now offers through his consultancy firm. Peter has the misfortune to support Tottenham Hotspur, Kent CCC and England or Great Britain in most competitive sports. Fortunately, he enjoys a full and happy family life with his wife and two children in Suffolk, which compensates for the sporting trauma associated with supporting Spurs and England. Anybody who knows Peter well will confirm that he has the ideal physical profile of an armchair supporter.

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