Formula One star Hamilton knighted

London, December 31

Lewis Hamilton is now a “Sir” as well as a seven-time Formula One champion.

Hamilton received a knighthood on Wednesday as part of Queen Elizabeth II’s New Year’s honours list, which also recognised British performers, politicians, public servants and people outside the limelight who worked to defeat the coronavirus and its devastating impacts.

Hamilton, who secured his seventh F1 title last month to equal Michael Schumacher’s record, has said his recent success was partly inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement.

The 35-year-old race car driver took the knee on the grid and wore anti-racism slogans during the season.

Hamilton told the BBC last week that “it was a different drive than what I’ve had in me in the past, to get to the end of those races first so that I could utilise that platform” against racism.

Supporters have suggested Hamilton would have been knighted sooner if not for his tax status. Hamilton’s knighthood was awarded in the “overseas” section of the honours list because he lives in low-tax Monaco.

The queen’s honours are awarded twice a year, in late December and in June. — AP