BEVERLY HILLS, December 30, (THEWILL) –Â British racing driver Lewis Hamilton has had a most memorable year. He became a seven-time world champion on the circuit and an advocate on issues of diversity within his sport, in the Black Lives Matter Movement and even in the demonstrations against police brutality in Nigeria as well.
All these have been gone unnoticed especially by the Palace.
Hamilton has therefore received a knighthood in the new years honours list capping a remarkable 2020 for the Formula 1 superstar, who equalled Michael Schumacher’s record of seven world championship titles with another dominant year for Mercedes.
Using his voice, he powerfully advocated for diversity and change both in motorsport and wider society. As the only coloured driver in the circuit, he brought the issues promoted by the Black Lives Matter movement into the F1 paddock and influenced many of his fellow riders to join his protests.
He also set up a commission to address the lack of diversity in Motorsports this past September. It aims at identifying the “key barriers to the recruitment and progression of black people in UK motorsport” and providing “actionable recommendations to overcome them”.
Hamilton also donned an #EndSARS T-shirt in solidarity with Nigerians protesting police violence in his support of the cause of the protesters for a pre-race television interview at the Portuguese Grand Prix on Sunday, October 25.
Other recipients of honours from the world of sports include an MBE for former England and Tottenham great Jimmy Greaves, as well as England’s Billie Jean King Cup captain Anne Keothavong. World Snooker Tour supremo Barry Hearn was also received an OBE for services to sport.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
