Lewis Hamilton, the 7XWDC champion, received the coveted honor of knighthood in a ceremony conducted at Windsor Castle in December 2021. In recognition of his remarkable feat in reaching Michael Schumacher’s historic record of seven championships, Hamilton, now 38, was elected to the Queen’s Honours List.
On a historic Wednesday, Hamilton was awarded knighthood from the present monarch of England, King Charles III, upgrading his title to that of a knight.
Hamilton has unambiguously proven himself as the most successful driver in Formula 1 history after securing several victories and pole positions. The fact that he was the first and only Black driver in the sport’s 70-year history adds another layer of distinction to his brilliant career.
The Briton established the Hamilton Commission in 2020 as a sign of his dedication to advancing inclusivity and diversity. This program aimed to look into ways to improve the representation of black people in UK motor racing.
🏎️ Arise Sir @LewisHamilton!
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) December 15, 2021
The seven-time @F1 World Champion received his Knighthood from The Prince of Wales at today’s Investiture ceremony held at Windsor Castle. pic.twitter.com/I3xicKLLYp
In 2009, he was awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire), a distinguished honor given to those who have had profound effects in their respective fields, in recognition of his outstanding contributions and accomplishments throughout his career, both on and off the track. The MBE is ranked as the third-highest honor that can be conferred.
Why is Max Verstappen’s first WDC title so controversial?
Max Verstappen’s controversial pass of Lewis Hamilton on the penultimate lap of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, also the reason behind Michael Masi’s departure, subsequently ended Hamilton’s bid for an eighth title, which would have set a new record.
Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen clashed in a high-stakes racing at the Yas Marina Circuit, where they were tied in points. The former dominated the majority of the Grand Prix, taking advantage of the extraordinary speed of his Mercedes.
The truth behind Latifi’s Abu Dhabi crash in 2021, that caused the Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton controversy, uncovered.
— Jason Hassett (@Jayhassett) June 10, 2023
Warning, this may be shocking to some viewers. pic.twitter.com/teXQ29LfgP
With only four circuits left, Williams Racing’s Nicholas Latifi crashed into the barriers, heightening the tense situation and forcing the use of the safety car. The controversy peaked when race director Michael Masi initially said that lapped cars would not be permitted to unlap themselves, only to appear to change his mind shortly after.
Due to this, the race was restarted on the last lap, allowing Verstappen to start nearly side by side with Hamilton despite the latter’s significant lead. This led to Verstappen winning his first WDC title and outrage from fans towards the race due to its many controversies.
As of the ongoing 2023 season, the Dutch driver is evidently dominating the sport with Lewis Hamilton holding only 2 podiums so far. They both are receiving tough competition from senior Fernando Alonso and Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz Jr.