Damon Hill leads praise from world of F1 for ‘exceptional talent’ Lewis Hamilton after knighthood

The world of Formula One has hailed seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton after he was awarded a knighthood. 

It was confirmed that Hamilton will be knighted when the New Year Honours list was revealed on Wednesday night.

Former F1 driver Damon Hill, crowned world champion in 1996, has led the plaudits for the Brit.

Ex-F1 driver Damon Hill (L), world champion in 1996, has led the plaudits for Lewis Hamilton (R)

‘It’s fantastic the way he calls out to all the young kids. He’s going to ignite a whole army of Hamilton wannabe-emulaters,’ he told BBC Radio 5 Live.

‘He deserves his knighthood. He always has been an exceptional talent but it’s incredible what he’s achieve this year.

‘It’s not been a good year for most of us on the planet but it’s been a pretty good year for Lewis.’ 

While ex-driver Martin Brundle told Sky Sports News: ‘Congratulations to him, and very well deserved.

‘Seven world titles he has in his pocket now equalling the great Michael Schumacher. He tops the tables in Formula 1 for most victories at 95, most pole positions at 98, most podiums at 165.

‘He’s 36 years old on January 7. Most of the young guns aiming to knock him off the pedestal are 10-15 years younger than him and he still turns up with his A game; full of energy, pushing like crazy.

Hamilton has enjoyed a record-breaking year and won his seventh world title in November 

The Briton notched a record-equalling seventh world title in another dominant season in F1

‘If anybody in sporting terms deserves this recognition then surely it’s Sir Lewis Hamilton.’

Hamilton has enjoyed a record-breaking year after beating Michael Schumacher’s all-time victory tally and matching the legendary driver by claiming his seventh world title.

The 35-year-old was crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year for a second time earlier this month and becomes the fourth F1 driver to be knighted. He follows in the footsteps of Sir Jack Brabham, Sir Stirling Moss and Sir Jackie Stewart but Hamilton is the first to be awarded the honour while still competing.

The British driver has won six of his titles at Mercedes, who he moved to from McLaren in 2013, and Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said the UK should feel proud to have a ‘champion and ambassador of the calibre of Sir Lewis Hamilton’. 

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff (R) said the UK should feel proud to have a ‘champion’ like Hamilton

‘Lewis is one of the very greatest racing drivers of all time and the most successful British sportsperson of his era,’ he said.

‘Around the world, he has long been recognised for his sporting achievement, and this year, he combined his excellence on the track with a powerful voice to fight discrimination. In every sense, he led the way in 2020.

‘The news that he is to receive a knighthood shows that he is now receiving the recognition he has earned during a career of unparalleled success in motorsport.

‘The UK can be very proud to have a champion and ambassador of the calibre of Sir Lewis Hamilton.’ 

Hamilton won BBC Sports Personality of the Year award for the second time earlier this month

Sportsmail revealed on Tuesday that prime minister Boris Johnson had bypassed concerns over the world champion’s tax status by placing him on the ‘Diplomatic and Overseas List’. 

Worth more than £250million, Hamilton has lived in tax exile in Monaco for a decade, having first moved from the UK to Switzerland after completing his debut season in 2007.  He has previously defended the amount of tax he pays in the UK.

Former Labour Cabinet minister Lord Hain, vice-chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Formula One, has twice written to Downing Street with evidence that Hamilton is among the top 5,000 UK taxpayers.

The 35-year-old driver has also been vocal in leading the sport’s stance against racism 

But the sport honours committee did not believe this clinched the argument because Hamilton’s Monaco residency meant HMRC could not adequately vet his tax affairs — a prerequisite for all domestic awards.

 The Prime Minister has since sidestepped this concern by using the ‘Overseas’ designation that ‘recognises people who have given exceptional service to the UK abroad and internationally’.

Hamilton was born in Stevenage, Hertfordshire and grew up on a council estate before becoming grand prix racing’s first black driver. He has spent this year campaigning for greater diversity in his sport.

His push for greater diversity within F1 is coupled with his outspoken support for the Black Lives Matter movement this year. His Mercedes team also ditched their famous silver colours to adopt a black livery for the 2020 campaign in a stand against discrimination.