Call him ” Sir “, from now on ! British driver Lewis Hamilton was knighted in the UK, promoted to knight on the New Year’s honors list, after tying Michael Schumacher’s record, with seven world titles in Formula 1.
Aged 35, he joined the legendary German sportsman in the top category of motorsport during an exceptional 2020 season, shortened due to the pandemic. Last month, a group of British parliamentarians called on Prime Minister Boris Johnson to elevate the pilot to the rank of knight.
Coming from a modest background, Hamilton had dedicated his victory on November 15, in Turkey, “To the children and to all those for whom it is important to see this”, telling them: “Dream the impossible, pursue this dream, never doubt yourself. “
Hamilton, a resident of the Principality of Monaco, has been in the spotlight in the past for his tax situation, but has argued that he pays a significant amount of tax in Britain.
Involved in different causes
The beloved and controversial Mercedes driver has become a strong advocate for equality, diversity, animal welfare and the environment, and has made several strong statements during this year on human rights, democracy and the fight against racism, by committing to the Black Lives Matter movement (“Black lives matter”). In particular, he regularly dropped to one knee on the starting grid during this season, a sign that has become a symbol of the protest against violence against blacks.
It is “A different motivation from what I had in the past: to finish the races first in order to be able to use this platform” against racism, he told the BBC.
The UK New Year’s Honors List recognizes outstanding achievement in different fields including sport, politics or entertainment, as well as contributions from a large number of ordinary citizens. This year, many prizes have been awarded to those who seek solutions to the problems posed by Covid-19 as the pandemic drags on.
