Lewis Hamilton became seven-time Formula 1 champion this year and can now also be called “Sir”.
The pilot was knighted on Wednesday, as part of the honor roll released by Queen Elizabeth, which recognizes artists, politicians, officials and others. In particular, the honor this year went to those who participated in the fight against the coronavirus and its devastating impact.
Hamilton, who won his seventh F1 title last month to match Michael Schumacher’s record, has said some of his recent success was inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement. The 35-year-old fell to one knee and used anti-racism slogans on his equipment all season long.
“There was a different force than that which had driven me in the past,” Hamilton told the BBC last week. “I wanted to get to the end of the races first, to use that platform” against racism.
Some have suggested that Hamilton would have been knighted sooner had his tax status not been there. The honor was awarded to him in the foreign performance section of the list, as he lives in Monaco, a low-tax country.
Hamilton’s tax issues hit the press in 2017, when a document leak known as the Paradise Papers revealed that the pilot had been evaded by paying more than $ 4 million in taxes for a private jet registered in the Isle of Man. a tax haven.
David Richards, Chairman of Motorport UK’s board of directors, said Hamilton’s tax status was “totally misunderstood”. He added that the motorsport star is among the 5,000 largest taxpayers in the UK.
The Queen’s decoration is awarded twice a year, in December and June.