Lewis Hamilton is looking for a new manager after he and his father Anthony decided to call time on one of the closest partnerships in Formula One.

McLaren's 2008 world champion, whose career has been guided by his father since he started out in karting at eight years old, told reporters that both felt the moment had come for the relationship to change.

"We've been discussing it for a while and it's only just come out now that we are going to be making some changes," the 25-year-old driver said.

"There's no need to rush, but at some stage I will find a new manager."

Hamilton, who will be partnered at McLaren by compatriot and champion Jenson Button when the season starts in Bahrain on March 14, said the decision was more due to his father's increasing business interests than any desire to strike out as his own man.

"He's building his sports management business, it's growing really fast right now," he said.

"I feel he should focus his full attention on that."

Hamilton senior's interests include managing Force India reserve driver Paul di Resta and teenage Dutch go-karter Nyck de Vries.