F1: Hamilton signs Simon Fuller's XIX Entertainment's management services

"Hmm...looks like I'm all set for a 'fuller' career now!"

It’s been a year since 2008 Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton started managing his own career, taking over from his father Anthony Hamilton who was his manager more or less ever since Lewis began racing. Hamilton has been on a hunt to find new management though and the job has finally been trusted to a very unlikely person. Simon Fuller isn’t someone you would normally associate with motorsports, especially when you consider some of his other achievements – he is the creator of the hit television reality series American Idol after all! But Fuller’s talent agency, XIX Entertainment also has some very respectable British sporting talent in David Beckham and Andy Murray, which now also includes Lewis Hamilton.

"It was important I took my time to make this decision as it had to be right for my career and my long-term future," Hamilton said today. "I spoke to many interested companies in recent months but I felt Simon Fuller along with his team at XIX Entertainment not only wanted to help me become an even better racing driver, but they also shared my ambitions for the longer term. I look forward to working with them closely."

Simon Fuller added, "I've met Lewis and his father several times in the past and kept an eye on his career closely over the years. Like any British fan I watched with pride and admiration at his achievements, incredibly winning the World Championship at such a young age. He's not only one of the leading sportsmen of his generation, he will I believe become one of the best of all time. It's an honour to be partnering with Lewis in what will be a very exciting stage of his career."

Anthony Hamilton, Lewis Hamilton's father, welcomed the move: "This is great news for Lewis and for Simon. Lewis has wisely taken his time to find a good person to look after him. I met with Simon a couple of years back and he was then at the top of my list as my potential replacement. I'm happy to see that two years on Lewis has also come to his own opinion about Simon and made his own decision."