LONDON (Reuters) – Formula One world champion has left Lewis Lewis seven times as a knight on the UK New Year’s honor list released on Wednesday.
The 35-year-old became the most successful F1 driver ever after equaling Michael Schumacher’s seven brilliant Ferrari titles and winning 91 German trophies.
The only Black driver at the sport, who grew up in social housing as the granddaughter of Caribbean immigrants, Hamilton has also used his image to campaign for diversity and speak out. against racial injustice.
The presence of a Monaco resident on the overseas and international list, rather than a major one with many being rewarded for service to public health in a pandemic, was a reflection of his tax status.
The Daily Mail newspaper reported that Prime Minister Boris Johnson had “bent the rules” to get around the tax requirements for domestic rewards.
The citation referred to Hamilton’s sports record and his “charitable and philanthropic donations in the UK and abroad”.
Writer Roger Deakins, best known for his work on films such as “1917”, “Shawshank Redemption” and “Skyfall”, was knighted on the same list overseas.
Hamilton fans have long felt that his achievements were not sufficiently recognized at home and claimed that the Mercedes driver was joining a select group of sports fans.
“Lewis is a giant of our sport and its impact is huge both inside and out in a car,” said Stefano Domenicali, a recently appointed Formula One chief executive and former team principal. Ferrari.
“His achievements are remarkable with more to come.”
Mercedes teammate Toto Wolff, Hamilton, who won his first McLaren title in 2008, won the most successful British athlete of his generation.
The knighthood, he said, said that Hamilton – often seen as a polar bear – was “now gaining the recognition he gained during a career of unparalleled success in motorsport”.
“The UK can be very proud to have a champion and ambassador for Sir Lewis Hamilton,” said Austria.
Hamilton is the fourth F1 driver to be knighted after Australian Jack Brabham, Stirling Moss and triple champion Jackie Stewart and the only man to win the award while still racing.
Tourley France winner Tour de France at Cycling, Olympic gold medalist Mo Farah 5,000 and 10,000 meters, two Wimbledon tennis champions Andy Murray and England cricket Alastair Cook went on to become an active knight.
Reporting by Alan Baldwin, edited by Ed Osmond