Hamilton shakes up his management team
The Mercedes ace has put a new gloss on ‘Team Hamilton’ by hiring Tom Shine and axing key man Didier Coton.
The Frenchman, who had previously managed double champion Mika Hakkinen, had been bought in by manager Simon Fuller to streamline Hamilton’s affairs after they were taken out of McLaren’s hands. But he has lasted just one season.
Instead, the 28-year-old Mercedes ace has bought in Shine from XIX Entertainment to handle his day-to-day affairs. A source close to Hamilton said: "Tom is very experienced but Simon Fuller will still be the main man.
"It was Lewis’ decision. He has made all the decisions and Didier was on a one-year contract."
Hamilton has seen Toto Wolff and Niki Lauda arrive at Mercedes since he moved there. Then there was turmoil as team chief Ross Brawn blocked plans to replace him with McLaren’s top technical man Paddy Lowe.
Asked about his future, Brawn said: "I am settled. I have got no problems."
But it’s all change for Lewis with a new team, new £25m Bombardier jet and a bulldog puppy called Roscoe.