The highest-ever number of race wins, a record-equalling seven world championship titles and now a knighthood for services to motorsport. Sir Lewis Hamilton has had an incredible year which included topping the public vote for the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year for a second time.
Lewis Hamilton knighted in New Year Honours list
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Hugely deserving of the honour for his on-track prowess, in 2020 also Hamilton highlighted the issue of diversity within motorsport, establishing the Hamilton Commission to open up new pathways for success in Formula 1.
As the only regular black driver in the top echelons of motorsport, Hamilton drove F1’s management to recognise the issue and launch the ‘We Race As One’ campaign following the global growth of the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement.
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As guest editor of BBC 4’s Today programme on Boxing Day, Hamilton spoke to historian Professor David Olusoga about how this provided inspiration for his success in 2020: "I had this extra drive in me this year to get to the end of those races.
"It was a different drive than what I've had in me in the past, to get to the end of those races first so that I could utilise that platform (for Black Lives Matter) and shine the light as bright as possible. There is no way that I could stay silent. And once I said that to myself, I didn't hold any fear."
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Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali praised Hamilton as a "true giant of our sport" and added "his influence is huge both in and out of the car. What he has achieved is phenomenal with still more to come."
Hamilton, who received an MBE in 2008 after his first world championship title, joins Sir Stirling Moss, Sir Jackie Stewart and Sir Jack Brabham in the pantheon of F1 stars with knighthoods.
Hamilton was also not the only motorsport legend and multiple winner to be honoured in the 2021 list; John McGuinness was awarded an MBE for services to motorcycle racing. McGuinness is the greatest living Isle of Man TT champion, having won the race 23 times since his first victory in 1999 in the Lightweight class. In 2007 he became the first rider to lap the course at more than 130mph and had his most recent win in 2015 in the Seniors race.
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