Formula One Racing Legend Lewis Hamilton Set To Receive Knighthood

Royal officials have confirmed that Lewis Hamilton is set to receive his knighthood at Windsor Castle on Wednesday the 15^th of December 2021 for services to motorsports; the 36-year-old will become the fourth Formula One driver to be recognised with knighthood after Sir Jackie Stewart in 2001, Sir Stirling Moss in 2000, and Sir Jack Brabham in 1979. This ceremony is taking place only three days after the controversial circumstances when the racing legend, Lewis Hamilton, lost out on what would have been a record-breaking eighth Formula One world title.

At the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton was overtaken by rival Max Verstappen during the final lap, who then claimed his first F1 (Formula One) world championship title. Max Verstappen became the first Dutch champion in history and the first Red Bull driver to win a title since Sebastian Vettel in 2013.

A crash by Nicholas Latifi triggered a Safety Car on Lap 52 out of 58; this led the race to restart on the final lap of the race and Max Verstappen passed the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton, who was struggling on worn tyres with less grip. The decision of restarting the race was controversial and FIA race director, Michael Masi, is reported to feel a lot of pressure from Red Bull boss Christian Horner to let the lapped cars overtake the Safety Car to move Max Verstappen behind Lewis Hamilton for the restart of the race. Christian Horner has asked Michael Masi, “Why aren’t we getting these cars out of the way? We only need one racing lap.”

As Max Verstappen won, he screamed into his radio, “Oh my God, oh my God,” and said to his Red Bull team, “It’s insane… can we do this for another 10 or 15 years together?”

Lewis Hamilton congratulated Max Verstappen and was unfortunately denied an eighth championship. He had won his seventh world championship last year when he equalled Michael Schumacher’s record.

After the final lap and Max Verstappen’s win, the Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said to Michael Masi over the radio, “Michael! Michael! You have to go back a lap.” He said that the results should count from the lap before the Safety Car came in. To this, the FIA race director replied, “Toto … Toto … this is a motor race.”

Earlier in the race, Red Bull was complaining to Michael Masi after a first-lap incident, when Max Verstappen attempted to pass Lewis Hamilton, who had gone off track and appeared to gain an advantage. Race control decided against any further investigation. Until the end, the number of clashes between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen concluded the most dramatic season of Formula One.

Buckingham Palace announced that the ceremony of knighthood would take place just hours after Lewis Hamilton was omitted from the shortlist of six sporting stars for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year, which takes place this coming Sunday. Lewis Hamilton will be knighted along with actor David Suchet for services to drama and charity, and Deutsche Oper Berlin general music director Donald Runnicles.

Lewis Hamilton will be knighted by the Prince of Wales at the Windsor Castle in honour for his services to motorsports.