Abu Dhabi: Clutching a glass of beverage and sporting a McLaren victory top, Lewis Hamilton's mother delivered the words her son wanted to hear.
"I might start coming to a few more," said Carmen Lockhart, whose birthday treat weekend in Abu Dhabi ended in the best possible style. Hamilton has previously admitted his envy of the ‘bubble of love' enjoyed at every race by his team-mate, Jenson Button, namely the support of his father, girlfriend and manager.
If having his family around him on grand prix weekends can have this kind of effect on the 26-year-old Hamilton's mood and performance, then expect the clan to be around more often.
Hamilton dedicated his win to his mum, but it required a gift from Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel for the Englishman to take his third victory of a trying season.
With the stage set for yet another afternoon cruise from pole to chequered flag for Vettel, hopes of equalling Michael Schumacher's record of 13 wins in a season were dashed at the second corner of the opening lap as the double world champion was sent spiralling with a right-rear puncture.
Vettel managed to limp to the pits but the damage from the flailing rubber forced him to retire for the first time in 20 races.
His exit offered Hamilton the chance to prove that, Vettel is not the only driver capable of controlling matters from the front when the opportunity presents itself.
Many observers feel that having his father back on the scene more regularly, even if it isn't in a managerial capacity, is the next piece in the jigsaw if Hamilton is to fully regain his form.
