Portugal Colonial - F1 star Hamilton to change name to honour mother

The 37-year-old said he would add his mother's surname to his -- most likely racing as Lewis Hamilton-Larbalastier -- in a move that would take place "soon".

"My mum's name is Larbalestier and I'm just about to put that in my name," the Mercedes driver said in an on-stage interview at the Expo world fair in Dubai.

"Because I don't really fully understand the whole idea when people get married then the woman loses her name.

"And my mum, I really want her name to continue on with the Hamilton name."

Hamilton said he was "working on" the name-change but that it would not take place before this week's season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.

Larbalastier divorced Lewis's father, Anthony Hamilton, when their son was young but he lived with his mother until the age of 12.

The Briton, who was pipped to his eighth world title in controversial circumstances at last year's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, was non-committal about his future, saying he was taking it "one day at a time".

But Hamilton, who took a two-month break from social media before reappearing in February, added: "I've come back to fight for that eighth (title), that's what I'm here for."

S.Pimentel--PC