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The knighthood, meaning he will be formally known as Sir Lewis Hamilton, was awarded to him at the end of a year that saw him equaling Michael Schumacher’s record of seven F1 World Championship titles and surpassing the race win count. from German.
He has also run a campaign to increase diversity in sport and has frequently spoken out against racism in society, although the honor is for his services to motorsport. It comes exactly 12 years after Hamilton, after his first World Championship title, became a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for his services to motorsport.
Hamilton is the third F1 world champion to receive the knighthood, after Jack Brabham (in 1978) and Jackie Stewart (2001), while the honor also went to Stirling Moss (2000). However, Hamilton is the first to obtain this status while still an active driver.
Additionally, runners and land speed record breakers Henry Segrave (1929) and Malcolm Campbell (1931) were knighted before World War II.
Aside from the drivers, Williams F1 team founders Frank Williams and Patrick Head also received knighthoods, in 1999 and 2015 respectively.
Hamilton has been awarded the knighthood at only 35 years old, although he is not the youngest athlete to be recognized in the modern era. Tennis star Andy Murray was 29 when he was named to the 2017 New Years honors list following his second win at Wimbledon, while riders Bradley Wiggins and Chris Hoy were 32. Sailor Ellen MacArthur was 28 when became a lady, the equivalent of a knighthood, in 2005.
New F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, who officially starts working in January, has paid tribute to Hamilton.
“Lewis is a true giant of our sport and his influence is huge both inside and outside of a car,” said Domenicali. “What he has achieved is phenomenal and there is still more to come.
“Everyone in F1 congratulates him on this well deserved recognition of his achievements and we look forward to seeing more of his brilliance in 2021.”
Mercedes-Benz AMG F1 Team Principal Toto Wolff commented: “Lewis is one of the greatest racing drivers of all time and the most successful British sportsman of his time. He has long been recognized around the world. for his athletic accomplishments, this year he combined his excellence on the track with a powerful voice to combat discrimination. In every way, he led the way in 2020.
“The news that he will receive a knighthood shows that he is now receiving the recognition he has earned during an unprecedentedly successful career in motorsport. The UK can be very proud to have a champion and ambassador of the caliber of Sir Lewis Hamilton. “
Lewis Hamilton, 2008 FIA Formula 1 World Champion, and Stefano Domenicali, winning constructor, Ferrari team principal
Photo by: FIA
Earlier this month, Hamilton received recognition from the British public when he was voted the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year for the second time, having previously won the prestigious award in 2014.
He also won the 2020 Laureus World Sports Award for Sportsman of the Year, sharing it with footballer Lionel Messi.
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