Lewis Hamilton WILL be awarded a Knighthood in New Year’s Honours after his tax affairs are cleared

Lewis Hamilton will be awarded a knighthood in the New Year’s Honour list after winning his seventh world championship this year.

Hamilton made F1 history last week when he equalled the legendary Michael Schumacher’s record with a seventh world-title win. Nobody has won more driver championships than the pair in the sport. 

The 35-year-old had has previously played down the calls for a knighthood, saying: ‘I’ve not saved any lives, I’m not an unsung hero like NHS staff or Captain Sir Tom Moore.’

But he told the BBC that if the honour were bestowed on him, it would be the ‘happiest day of his life’ to meet the Queen again. 

He said: ‘Like everyone, I’ve grown up adoring the royal family, if one day I am honoured to be up in front of the queen again, it would be the happiest day ever to see here again, she’s an icon, such an incredible individual.’

The Formula One champion will receive the gong despite his controversial tax affairs.

But the Government’s Honours Committee said his affairs were ‘all in order’ and he will be given the award in the New Year, according to The Sun. 

Lewis Hamilton will be awarded a knighthood in the New Year’s Honour list after winning his seventh world championship this year

The driver, pictured receiving his MBE from the Queen in 2009, will receive the gong despite his controversial tax affairs

The driver, pictured receiving his MBE from the Queen in 2009, will receive the gong despite his controversial tax affairs

Hamilton was a keen go-karter as a  young boy, sparking his love of racing which has taken him to the top of the sport

Hamilton was a keen go-karter as a  young boy, sparking his love of racing which has taken him to the top of the sport

Mercedes' Hamilton (above) won his first Formula One world championship way back in 2008

Mercedes’ Hamilton (above) won his first Formula One world championship way back in 2008

The champion, who has often spoken out on issues of race, has been lauded as one of Britain's greatest ever sportsman

The champion, who has often spoken out on issues of race, has been lauded as one of Britain’s greatest ever sportsman 

The racer, estimated to be worth £250million, is a resident in tax haven Monaco.

A friend said: ‘This is an honour that has eluded Lewis for so many years. It marks an incredible end to the most wonderful season.’

Another said: ‘He is paying the right amount of tax — all that is due.

‘He has been put forward by industry bosses in recognition of his enormous contribution to the sport.’

Hamilton was previously awarded an MBE after his maiden championship triumph in 2008. 

The British driver sealed his seventh world championship with his victory in Turkey

The British driver sealed his seventh world championship with his victory in Turkey 

Hamilton made F1 history last week when he equalled the legendary Michael Schumacher's record with a seventh world-title win

Hamilton made F1 history last week when he equalled the legendary Michael Schumacher’s record with a seventh world-title win

TIME-HONOURED TRADITION

Sports people knighted or made dames while they were still competing:

Sir Gordon Richards – Racing, 1953

Sir Stanley Matthews – Football, 1965

Dame Naomi James – Sailing, 1979

Sir Richard Hadlee – Cricket, 1990

Dame Kelly Holmes – Athletics, 2005

Dame Tanni-Grey Thompson – Athletics, 2005

Dame Ellen MacArthur – Sailing, 2005

Sir Chris Hoy – Cycling, 2009

Sir Nick Faldo – Golf, 2009

Dame Sarah Storey – Cycling, 2013

Sir Bradley Wiggins – Cycling, 2013

Sir Ben Ainslie – Sailing, 2013

Dame Laura Davies – Golf, 2014

Sir Andy Murray – Tennis, 2017

Sir Mo Farah – Athletics, 2017

Dame Valerie Adams – Shot put, 2017

Sir Alastair Cook – Cricket, 2019

The driver’s tax arrangements, which were legal, allowed him to save £3.3million by registering a £16.5million private jet on the Isle of Man. 

Sports stars Andy Murray, Mo Farah and Alastair Cook have all been knighted in recent years. 

Hamilton’s accolade comes after his vocal support of the Black Lives Matter movement, especially in the wake of George Floyd’s death.

And in an interview with BBC News on Thursday morning, Hamilton opened up about how his upbringing made him more determined than ever to spark change – urging youngsters not give up on their dreams.

‘For the kids out there who dream the impossible, do not give up on that dream because I am living proof that you can manifest your dreams and even the impossible ones,’ he said.

‘I remember as a kid; adults, teachers, parents of other drivers telling me that I would not make it. “You’re not going to make it, go back to your country.”

‘All these horrible things and I remember thinking I’m going to prove you wrong.

‘The message is for all the kids out there who feel they don’t have a voice and might be dreaming of something or want to dream big.’

At 35-years-old, he still feels the passion to continue fighting for success not only on the track, but also away from it as a key campaigner and importance voice calling for greater racial equality and diversity. 

It comes after he recently asked for more time for himself in his bumper new £120million Mercedes deal. 

The champion has been away from his family even more this year amid the coronavirus pandemic and the exhaustive demands of competing at the top have led him to demand more personal days be included in the deal, expected to be finalised soon. 

Hamilton is now the most successful driver in Formula One history. He has more race wins than Michael Schumacher (the pair pictured in 2012) and has matched his championship win record

Hamilton is now the most successful driver in Formula One history. He has more race wins than Michael Schumacher (the pair pictured in 2012) and has matched his championship win record

Hamilton climbs on top of his Mercedes to salute his team and celebrate becoming a world champion for a seventh time

Hamilton climbs on top of his Mercedes to salute his team and celebrate becoming a world champion for a seventh time

Hamilton struggles to hold back the tears after equalling Michael Schumacher's record of seven world titles

Hamilton struggles to hold back the tears after equalling Michael Schumacher’s record of seven world titles

He told the BBC: ‘I’m going to be spending time with friends and family, creating memories, if we get to start travelling more, its about taking my family somewhere and creating memories with them and celebrating with them, just being around them because this year I’ve not been able to see them.

And when asked if he’d have more time to himself carved into his new deal, he responded with a knowing smile. 

‘Potentially… that’s always a part of the conversation, I need more time, I think this year has shown for example that you can work from home. 

‘I’m sure there will be a lot of Zoom days in the contract rather than present days which means I have to fly less, which is good.’  

IN NUMBERS: HOW LEWIS HAMILTON COMPARES TO MICHAEL SCHUMACHER 

Lewis Hamilton has emulated Michael Schumacher by winning his seventh world championship.

Here is how two of the sport’s most successful drivers compare to one another.

Michael Schumacher

Titles: 7

Starts: 306

Wins: 91

Poles: 68

Podiums: 155

Fastest laps: 77

Win ratio: 30 per cent

Lewis Hamilton

Titles: 7

Starts: 264

Wins: 94

Poles: 97

Podiums: 163

Fastest laps: 53

Win ratio: 35 per cent

Schumacher won seven championships, two with Benetton in 1994 and 1995 and then an unprecedented five on the spin for Ferrari at the turn of the century.

A controversial driver, he collided with Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve at the 1994 and 1997 championship deciders, before he was adjudged to have deliberately parked his Ferrari at Monaco in 2006 to prevent Fernando Alonso from setting a lap in qualifying.

Little is known of Schumacher’s current medical health following a skiing crash on holiday with his family in the French Alps in 2013.

Hamilton was the youngest world champion when he won his first title in 2008 – a record since broken by Sebastian Vettel – and 12 years later he is firmly among the elite.

His tally of victories, pole positions and podiums is the most ever and he is set to gun for a record-breaking eighth championship next season.

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