Arise Sir Lewis: already F1 royalty, Hamilton knighted at Windsor Castle days after title heartbreak
- The seven-time F1 champion received a knighthood for his services to motorsport
- Hamilton was denied a record eighth title in Abu Dhabi on Sunday as Max Verstappen claimed his maiden championship in controversial circumstances
Lewis Hamilton picked up a new title just days after losing one on the track.
The 36-year-old was named in the New Year Honours list in December 2020, and received a knighthood from the Prince of Wales.
Hamilton was made an MBE in 2009, receiving the award from Queen Elizabeth in the wake of his maiden F1 championship. He joins Jack Brabham, Stirling Moss and Jackie Stewart as the fourth F1 driver to be knighted, but the first to receive the honour while still actively racing.
Hamilton had been cruising to his eighth world title on Sunday, but a crash involving Williams Racing’s Nicholas Latifi with just four of the 58 laps to go brought out the safety car and changed the race.
Verstappen took the opportunity to change to softer tires and when the wreckage of Latifi’s car had been removed from the track, officials ruled that there would be a single lap to decide the race.
Hamilton restarted the final lap almost side-by-side with a refreshed Verstappen, who hunted down his rival to overtake on turn five and win his first world title in the most dramatic circumstances imaginable.
Mercedes have since launched two protests against the result, both of which have been denied. The team is now understood to be reconsidering plans for an appeal, with Hamilton saying he does not want to win an eight title in court.
