Should we celebrate the success of Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton?

I WAS very pleased that Martin Samuel defended Lewis Hamilton, who has been criticised for living in Monaco (Mail). As a taxpayer, I do not defend anyone choosing to live in tax exile, but Hamilton is not the first and won’t be the last. I don’t think the 100,000 fans at Silverstone to witness him winning his sixth British Grand Prix ‘find it very difficult to like him’, as columnist Amanda Platell thinks. There are millions of us round the country, and the world, who think he is an amazing sportsman and a great ambassador for this country.

KATHY GRAVES, Ulverston, Cumbria. I Don’T recognise the talent of F1 drivers. They are extremely fortunate people earning unjustifiable money for driving the fastest and safest manufacturers’ cars, then paying little tax because of where they choose to live. Give most committed teens the same chance and a few new names would be known, but F1

is a closed shop. It’s not a real sport, unlike professional cycling.

M. Currie, address supplied.

LEWIS HAMILTON is a great British sportsman and we should take pride in his achievements. I followed the greats: Sir Stirling Moss, Jim Clark, Nigel Mansell and Damon Hill, British sportsmen from all walks of life. Lewis is up there with them.

DONALD NEALE, Southampton. I’D LIKE to thank Rio Ferdinand for standing up for Lewis Hamilton. As he says, no one ever mentions other high earners who find ways to reduce their tax bill. Hamilton has never broken any tax rules. His critics say he has won five world championships only because he has the best car, but don’t forget his teammate drives an identical vehicle.

ANDREW MacGREGOR, Merseyside.

BEFORE we start giving gongs to cricketers who’ve won one world championship, let’s give a knighthood to Lewis Hamilton who’s won five!

PETER NUGENT, Bootle, Merseyside. AS A family, we follow Lewis Hamilton avidly. He is a brilliant ambassador for Britain and motorsport. His strength of character shines through in that he does not rise to the disrespectful questions that are often put to him. How dare anyone question his Britishness! Bring on the day that we can call him Sir Lewis Hamilton. GERALDINE DEACON, Croydon, Surrey.

NO DOUBT Lewis Hamilton is skilled and courageous, but I’m not sure the whole sport of F1 is sustainable. I mean, 100,000 people travel miles in cars to watch others go round in circles in cars, then all drive home again. And we are asked to turn off our engines at level crossings to cut pollution. Should F1 and other such frivolous activities continue?

SIMON CAMPBELL, Glasgow.