Hamilton knighted in UK’s New Year honours list

Lewis Hamilton, British Formula One driver and seven-time world champion, has been awarded a knighthood in the UK’s New Year’s honours list.

The 35-year-old received the award, which is one of the highest honours bestowed in UK, on Wednesday.

The award, which dates back to medieval times and carries the title ‘Sir’, is given to selected individuals for exceptional achievement in any given activity.

Wednesday’s event was part of Queen Elizabeth II’s New Year’s honours list which also recognised several others who made an impact on their various fields during the outgoing year.

It comes on the backdrop of an exceptional year for Hamilton during which he equalled Michael Schumacher’s tally of seven world titles among other heroics.

Hamilton also dominated the headlines for his active involvement in the Black Lives Matter movement. He took the knee on the grid and wore anti-racism slogans during the season.

Stefano Domenicali, Formula One’s incoming CEO, said the feat was a further indication of Hamilton’s remarkable performance in 2020.

“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,” he said.

“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.”

Others included in the New Year’s honours list are:

MBEs:

• Singer and DJ Craig David
• Coronation Street actress Sally Dynevor
• Retired footballers Jimmy Greaves and Ron Flowers

OBEs:

• Former EastEnders actress Nina Wadia
• Screenwriter and Line of Duty producer Jed Mercurio
• Actor Toby Jones

CBEs:

• Academy Award nominee and actress Lesley Manville

Knighthood:

• Two-time Oscar-winning cinematographer Roger Deakins
• Former attorney general Geoffrey Cox QC

Damehood:

• Make-up artist Pat McGrath
• Angela Eagle, long-time MP for Wallasey in Merseyside
• Actress Sheila Hancock