British racing driver Lewis Hamilton was on Tuesday, November 8, 2022, awarded honorary citizenship by the Brazilian government.
Hamilton could not hide his joy during the award ceremony, describing the award as a great honour.
“It is my greatest honour to be here, receiving and accepting this citizenship. I really do feel like I am one of you finally.
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“When I arrived here in 2007, the love that is growing, the experiences that we have had, knowing you guys were cheering me on the way, It was one of the most special moments in my life,” he stated.
His fans turned out in large numbers to witness one of the greatest Formula 1 drivers of all time receive the award in Brasilia.
Hamilton dedicated the prestigious award to the late Brazilian driver Ayrton Senna who was killed in 1994 after a horrific crash.
Honorary citizenship does not affect an individual's nationality nor comes with any benefit.
It basically means a status bestowed by a government or a city on a person whom they consider worthy of the distinction or admirable.
This type of citizenship is the weakest one because in most nations, except Ireland, those who are awarded do not qualify for passports.
Apart from Brazil, some of the other countries that award individuals honorary citizenship include Canada, the United States, Belgium and Australia.
The 37-year-old will be seeking to register his first Formula 1 win this season at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix on Sunday, November 13.
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