Country should be proud of Hamilton, insists Wolff
MERCEDES boss Toto Wolff says the UK should feel proud to have a “champion and ambassador of the calibre of Sir Lewis Hamilton” after the Formula One driver was awarded with a knighthood.
Hamilton has been recognised in the New Year Honours list following a record-breaking year in which he eclipsed Michael Schumacher’s alltime victory tally and emulated the German by winning a seventh world championship title.
The 35-year-old, who was also voted the BBC’s Sport Personality of the Year, is the fourth Formula One driver to receive the accolade – following in the footsteps of Sir Jack Brabham, Sir Stirling Moss and Sir Jackie Stewart – and the first to be awarded the honour while still competing.
Austrian Wolff, 48, has overseen Hamilton’s success at Mercedes after the Briton’s move from McLaren in 2013. Hamilton has won six of his seven titles with them.
“Lewis is one of the very greatest racing drivers of all time and the most successful British sportsperson of his era,” said Wolff.
“Around the world, he has long been recognised for his sporting achievement, and this year, he combined his excellence on the track with a powerful voice to fight discrimination. In every sense, he led the way in 2020.
“The news that he is to receive a knighthood shows that he is now receiving the recognition he has earned in a career of unparalleled success in motorsport.
“The UK can be very proud to have a champion and ambassador of the calibre of Sir Lewis Hamilton.”
Hamilton clinched his recordequalling title against the backdrop of his personal fight against injustice.
He took a knee before all of the 16 rounds he contested, and persuaded Mercedes to change their livery from silver to black to send out a message in the battle against racism.
Damon Hill, world champion in 1996, said: “Lewis has stood up for issues that are close to his heart and affect everyone. In our sport it is very rare for a driver to get involved in anything that is outside of Formula One. He took a huge gamble to do that and that takes courage.”