Sir Lewis Hamilton has officially received his knighthood from the Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle on Wednesday December 15th.
The 36-year-old was awarded his knighthood and the resulting title in the 2021 New Year Honours list after matching Michael Schumacher with his seventh Formula 1 World Championship.
The Mercedes’ driver missed out on a record eighth title this season after a nail-biting conclusion to the F1 season in Abu Dhabi as Max Verstappen took the title for the first time. But Hamilton will be back to try and break the record in 2022 alongside new team mate George Russell.
After the Red Bull driver stormed past Sir Lewis – who missed out on a fifth title in succession – the British driver said on the car radio: “This has been manipulated, man,” but he was later magnanimous in post-race interviews. He told Sky Sports at the time: “Congratulations to Max and his team. I think we did an amazing job this year. Everyone back at the factory and here worked so hard in this most difficult of seasons.”
The Silver Arrows did however take a record eighth consecutive constructors' championship with Hamilton finishing second and Valtteri Bottas sixth to winner Verstappen on Sunday December 11th.
Hamilton appeared at Windsor Castle alongside his mother Carmen, who watched her son become the fourth Formula 1 driver in history to be knighted, following on from Sir Jackie Stewart, Sir Stirling Moss and Sir Jack Brabham.
Hamilton is also set to attend the end-of-season FIA Prize Giving Ceremony in Paris on Thursday December 16th alongside the newly-crowned champion.
Hamilton was previously awarded an MBE after his maiden Drivers' Championship triumph in similarly dramatic circumstances back in 2008, overtaking Timo Glock at the last corner on the final lap of the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix.
The Mercedes man was recently omitted from the shortlist for this year's BBC Sports Personality of the Year award, with Emma Raducanu the overwhelming favourite to claim the honours on Sunday evening.
She is joined by Tyson Fury, Sarah Storey, Tom Daley, Adam Peaty and Raheem Sterling on the six-strong list of nominees.