In a year of historic milestones and high praise, Lewis Hamilton achieved another, with the news that he would receive the title of knight – one of the highest honors awarded in his native United Kingdom.
The award, which dates back to medieval times and bears the title of ‘Lord’, is awarded to some selected for exceptional achievement in any activity, with previous F1 winners, 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 equaling his seventh world title, while helping Mercedes to a seventh consecutive constructors crown. The 35-year-old Briton also matched and then surpassed Michael Schumacher’s all-time record of 91 wins, bringing the count to 95.
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Off the track, he set up the Hamilton Commission to improve diversity in motorsport, and was also named Laureus World Sportsman Of The Year, BBC sportsman of the year, Game Changer Of The Year by GQ and was elected in Time 100 People most influential.
Commenting on Hamilton being named rider, Stefano Domenicali, the new Formula 1 CEO, said: “Lewis is a true giant of our sport and his influence is huge both inside and outside a car. What he has achieved is phenomenal, with even more to come. All of us at Formula 1 congratulate him for this well-deserved recognition of his achievements and we hope to see more of his brilliance in 2021. ”