Arise Sir Lewis! Hamilton to be awarded knighthood after historic seventh world title

In a year of historic milestones and major accolades, Lewis Hamilton has landed another, with the news that he is to receive a knighthood – one of the highest honours bestowed in his homeland of the United Kingdom.

The award, which dates back to medieval times and carries the title ‘Sir’, is given to a select few for an exceptional achievement in any given activity, with previous F1 recipients including Sir Jackie Stewart, Sir Stirling Moss, Sir Frank Williams, Sir Patrick Head and Sir Jack Brabham.

The award comes at the end of an exceptional year for Hamilton in which he won a record-equalling seventh world title, while helping Mercedes to a seventh straight constructors’ crown. The 35-year-old Briton also matched and then surpassed Michael Schumacher’s all-time record of 91 wins, taking the tally up to 95.

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Away from the track he set up the Hamilton Commission to improve diversity in motorsport, and was also named Laureus World Sportsman Of The Year, BBC sports personality of the year, GQ’s Game Changer Of The Year and was named in Time Magazine 100 most influential people.

Commenting on Hamilton being knighted, Stefano Domenicali, Formula 1’s incoming CEO, said: “Lewis is a true giant of our sport and his influence is huge both in and out of a car. What he has achieved is phenomenal with still more to come. All of us at Formula 1 congratulate him on this well deserved recognition of his achievements and look forward to seeing more of his brilliance in 2021.”