Lewis Hamilton is breaking records in Formula 1 at an unprecedented pace. Sweeping titles and honours, He is establishing himself in the all-time F1 walk of fame. Now, Lewis Hamilton has received the knighthood honour as his name was included in the Queen Elizabeth II's New Year's Honours List published on Wednesday, December 30, 2020. Hamilton has become the most successful F1 driver of all time after equalling Ferrari legend Michael Schumacher's record of seven titles. Also, he broke the German F1 racer’s record of 91 Grand Prix race wins.
Not just his sporting achievement, he is the only black F1 driver who has spoken on societal issues like discrimination while talking on diversity. He was included on the overseas and international list, instead of the main one which is an indicator of his residence of Monaco considered as a tax haven. As per the report on Daily Mail, British PM Boris Johnson had to bend the existing rules of tax requirements for domestic awards. The citation for knighthood alludes to Sir Lewis's F1 sporting achievements and his "charitable and philanthropic contributions in the UK and overseas".
Aside from the country's highest award, Hamilton also won BBC sports personality of the year and Laureus World Sportsman of the Year. He also found a mention in the list of Time Magazine's 100 most influential people. Plenty of eminent F1 personalities hailed Hamilton, who won his first title with McLaren in 2008, as the most successful British sportsperson of his generation. "Lewis is a true giant of our sport and his influence is huge both in and out of a car," spoke newly-appointed Formula One chief executive Stefano Domenicali, a former Ferrari team principal to media outlets. Lewis Hamilton became the fourth F1 driver to receive a knighthood. He follows the late Australian Jack Brabham, Stirling Moss and triple champion Jackie Stewart but is the only one to be still racing in F1 to receive the honour.
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