‘Sir’ Lewis Hamilton: Seven time F1 World Champion named in 2021 UK New Year’s honours list

Mercedes racer Lewis Hamilton has been named in UK New Year’s honours list. He is set to be bestowed with the Knighthood and will be honoured for his immense contribution and the accolades in the field of motorsports.

Lewis Hamilton will be knighted by Queen Elizabeth II

Lewis Hamilton, the seven time world champion is one of the most successful racers in Formula One and will be conferred with the honour after being named in UK New Year’s honours list, which recognises the incredible accomplishments in various fields like showbusiness, sports and politics.

This year many awards are to be presented to the citizens who are having the continuous battles with the COVID-19 pandemic

Prime Minister Boris Johnson had “bent the rules” to get the tax requirements of Hamilton.

Hamilton, who recently eclipsed the most F1 career wins record of legendary racer Michel Schumacher, has also been vocal for diversity and racial injustice. He is to be honoured for his “charitable and philanthropic contributions in the UK and overseas” as well.

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Hamilton has become the fourth F1 racer to be knighted after the late Australian Jack Brabham, Stirling Moss and the triple champion Jackie Stewart and the Brit is also the only to achieve this while actively racing. Aged 35, the Mercedes racer is also the youngest F1 racer to be honoured with this title.

The Briton will join the likes of Cycling’s Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins, Olympic 5,000 and 10,000 metres gold medallist Mo Farah, two-time Wimbledon tennis champion Andy Murray and England cricketer Alastair Cook to have been knighted as active sportsmen.

Lewis Hamilton will go down in the history as one of the most sucessful F1 racers

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff defined Hamilton, as the most successful British sportsperson of his era.

He said that Hamilton is “now receiving the recognition he has earned during a career of unparalleled success in motorsport”.

He added, “The UK can be very proud to have a champion and ambassador of the calibre of Sir Lewis Hamilton.”

Hamilton had previously won the BBC Sports Personality of the year award and was jointly awarded the Laureus World Sports Award for Sportsman of the year with football star, Lionel Messi.

Mercedes had teased the renewal of Hamilton’s contract with the team for the 2021 season but official announcement is yet to be made.