Troubled Lewis Hamilton’s father Anthony yesterday suggested his son needed a change of management to help him break free of the problems that have beset him in 2011.

Hamilton finished a brilliant fifth at Sunday’s Singapore Grand Prix after racing through the field from 19th, but came under fire afterwards from Brazilian rival Felipe Massa for causing a needless collision.

That cost the Ferrari driver a puncture and wrecked his race while Hamilton, of McLaren, had to pit for a broken nose and take a drive-through penalty.

His father Anthony, now manager of fellow Briton Paul di Resta, said his son was missing the presence of a manager with him at races.

Hamilton sacked his father, who guided him from karting to F1, from the job early this year.

Hamilton senior said: “Unfortunately, that issue in this race was an aggressive Lewis issue. It was a misjudgment. He didn’t go diving down the inside and wipe someone out. He just got it wrong.

“You look up and down the pit-lane and every driver, except for Lewis, has a driver-manager in his life – not people from a company. I am sure his management are very good but F1 drivers need people personally involved in the drivers’ lives because it is a big pressure.

“They have got to be here and I don’t think you can do the job by sending someone else. I don’t know any other driver-manager who sends someone else to do the job.”