Happier times: Lewis Hamilton with his father, Anthony, before the split
It is another positive sign in a season that is rapidly turning around for Hamilton. After a bumpy start, the 25 year-old has won two of the last three grands prix and goes into Sunday's race leading the championship by six points from team-mate Jenson Button.
The rapprochement with his father is clearly another weight off Hamilton's shoulders. Anthony was the rock on which Lewis's career was founded. He quit work and took on multiple part-time jobs to fund his son's karting career and until this season had not missed one of his son's races in any category.
Although their split was painted as amicable, with Anthony wanting to pursue other business interests and Lewis wanting time and space to grow, it rapidly became obvious the pair had fallen out. Hamilton Snr was understood to have been upset by the sudden jettisoning.
They did not speak after Hamilton was pulled over by Australian police in March for dangerous driving, and even now Hamilton will only admit they are in contact on a "messaging" basis.
"Everything is not 100 per cent in the past but we are definitely continuing to build on our relationship and things are moving slowly in the right direction," he said. "We are letting things take their time and move naturally rather than forcing things. It's generally positive. He's always sending me positive messages before the races."
Hamilton feels the time apart has been hugely beneficial, adding that he is "proud" of the way he has managed himself in the interim. "Bit by bit I'm working on things, on different areas which I didn't necessarily understand before," he said. "It's not like I've suddenly grown up. I'm still learning so many things but I'm taking the reins and controlling things."
Hamilton has ruled out managing himself on a full-time basis but does not appear in any rush to find a replacement for his father. A frequent visitor to the United States, where his girlfriend lives in Los Angeles, the suggestion is that he would like to break into the American market. However, he said it was unlikely he would engage an American agency.
"They are not involved in F1 and don't know about it," he said. "I hope there may be companies over there interested in signing me, in terms of endorsements. I love the States but that is not something that is going to draw me or make any difference to what decision I make."
For the moment, Hamilton is not looking beyond Sunday's race, which he feels he stands an excellent chance of winning. He is unlikely to be sent on his way, though, by his father who for many years gave his son a special pre-race handshake.
"I don't think it's necessary but if he happens to be on the grid, then great," Hamilton said. "It's something we did in the past and it will always remain something special but I think the way things are right now work very well for me.
"I've told him he can choose whether he wants to come into the paddock or not. He can go and experience something different because he has always watched it on the TV or from the paddock. In Montreal I had some of my friends and family in the grandstand at Turn One and they had the best experience. Hopefully he will have a good view from the grandstand and watch it from there."
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