In addition to the incredible Formula One success Lewis Hamilton has had this year; the Briton has just been awarded knighthood (one of the highest honours in the United Kingdom). This award carries the title “Sir” and it can be traced back to the medieval times. 

Hamilton becomes the fourth Formula One driver to be recognized with a knighthood – the likes of triple champion Jackie Stewart, Stirling Moss and the late Australian Jack Brabham were the three to be awarded a knighthood in the history of the sport before Lewis Hamilton. 

Hamilton has had an amazing career in the year 2020 as a Formula One driver. The 35years old Motorsports Superstar equaled Michael Schumacher’s record of seven world championship titles with another stunning season in the Mercedes. Before the curtain of this season’s Formula One was drawn to a close, the Briton was able to increase his overall tally to 95 wins as a driver in Formula One – this incredible record by Hamilton matched and surpassed Michael Schumacher’s all-time record of 91 career wins. 

Off-track, Lewis Hamilton set up the Hamilton Commission in a bid to improve diversity in motorsport. He became a key figure in advocating diversity and change in Formula One and every society in general. Hamilton got the attention of Formula One by bringing the Black Lives Matter movement into the motorsport and he was able to influence many of his fellow Formula One drivers in joining the protests too.  

Before Hamilton was recognized with a knighthood for his incredible on and off-track amazing performance, the seven times world championship winner was already named BBC Sports Personality Of The Year, Laureus World Sportsman Of The Year, GQ’s Game Changer Of The Year and he was recognized by the Time Magazine as part of the 100 most influential people. 
The incoming CEO of Formula One (Stefano Domenicali) had so much praise for Lewis Hamilton for his incredible performance in and out of a car: “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.”