Sir Lewis Hamilton receives knighthood days after losing F1 title

F1

Lewis Hamilton has received his knighthood, a year after being announced on the New Years Honours List

Carmen Larbalestier with Lewis Hamilton after he was knighted at Windsor Castle

Hamilton outside Windsor Castle with his mother Carmen Larbalestier

Andrew Matthews/PA Wire

Sir Lewis Hamilton has received his knighthood, almost a year after it was first announced, and just days after he controversially lost the 2021 Formula 1 drivers’ title to Max Verstappen.

After being announced on the 2021 New Years Honours List last December, seven-time champion Hamilton was knighted by Prince Charles at the Windsor Castle investiture earlier today.

In his first public appearance since the dramatic end to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the Mercedes driver was seen smiling and chatting with the Prince of Wales during the ceremony.

Related article

Hamilton is the first ever grand prix driver to be honoured whilst still racing at the top level – Jack Brabham, Stirling Moss and Jackie Stewart were bestowed the honour long after their F1 careers had ended.

It follows recent examples of knighting prominent sports stars during their peak, including Andy Murray, Bradley Wiggins, Chris Hoy and Sarah Storey.

Already an MBE, Hamilton received that honour from Buckingham Palace in 2009 and revealed that the Queen told him that she had “watched very closely” the final laps of the nail-biting 2008 Brazilian Grand Prix where secured the title at the final corner.

Hamilton has previously intimated that he would utilise the title, joking as he said he would “enforce it on everybody”.