No knighthood for Lewis Hamilton is ‘unacceptable’
Lewis Hamilton's omission from the current list of sporting greats who have received a knighthood has been described as "unacceptable" by Lord Hain, the former Labour cabinet minister.
Following Hamilton' s sixth world championship triumph last year, Ha in wrote to Prime Minister Boris Johnson making the case for the British driver to be granted an upgrade on the MBE he was awarded 12 years ago.
But Hamilton's achievements were overlooked in the subsequent New Year honours' list.
On Sunday, Hamilton, 35, claimed the 92nd win of his career to stand alone as Formula One's most victorious driver of all-time. He is also set to close out a recordequalling seventh world championship next month.
"You have got Andy Murray, Mo Farah, Bradley Wiggins who have all been given knighthoods in recent years, and I cannot understand why Lewis Hamilton hasn't," said Ha in, who serves as Vice Chair of the All Parliamentary Group on F1. "Frankly, it is unacceptable.
"He has broken the record for the number of Formula One races won, and he will be a world champion for a seventh time – records that are unlikely to be surpassed.
"This is a kid from a very deprived background, who is black, and has made it in what is a rich person's sport – an incredible achievement.
""He has been inspirational on the whole question of racism and Black Lives Matter. He supports charities and works on climate change.
"On the topic of tax, which is said to be a niggle, Lewis is a top British tax payer.
He has a house in London, and I have explained all of this. It's baffling."
Hain confirmed he intends to write a second letter to Downing Street when Hamilton, who holds a 77-point over Valtteri Bottas with just five races remaining, secures his seventh title – most likely to be at the Turkish Grand Prix on November 15.
But he added :" I don' t think it needs a letter from me to be frank. It should have happened already and it needs to happen now."
Hamilton celebrated his landmark triumph at the Portuguese Grand Prix with his father, Anthony, who worked four jobs to pave the way for his son to start out in motor racing.