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British F1 superstar Lewis Hamilton has announced that he is changing his surname to include his mother’s maiden name because he doesn’t ‘really fully understand the whole idea that when people get married the woman loses her name’.

The seven-time world champion said he intends to incorporate his mother Carmen’s maiden name Larbalestier alongside Hamilton so that the surname can live on with him.

Speaking ahead of the new Formula One season which starts in Bahrain on Sunday, he said: ‘It would mean the world to my family [to win an eighth title]. It would mean a lot to me knowing that, for example, I’m really proud of my family’s name: Hamilton. Actually none of you might know that my mum’s [sur]name is Larbalestier. And I’m just about to put that in my name.