Feb.19 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton's father has taken the blame for the PR disaster of the McLaren rookie's move to Switzerland last year.



Many high earning formula one drivers enjoy the tax benefits of residing in the western European country, but 23-year-old Hamilton insisted that his decision to leave Briton was motivated only by the desire for a quieter life.



Only in the subsequent heat of criticism and ridicule in the press did the young Briton have to admit that minimising tax was also a factor.



But to the Daily Mail newspaper on Tuesday, Hamilton's father and manager was quoted as taking the blame for the blunder.



"If I have any regrets, it is the way we managed the move to Switzerland. It was my idea," Anthony Hamilton said.



Hamilton Snr now openly admits that his son, who recently signed a more lucrative contract to stay with McLaren into the future, moved to Switzerland because of tax.



"I always said to Lewis that, if he started to make any money, he would have to move abroad," Anthony added.



"It could be a very short career - we just don't know - and you have to take care of what you have got."