F1

EVEN as he was rattling up an all-time record of Grand Prix victories, debate raged over whether Lewis Hamilton was truly appreciated in his homeland.
Now a knight of the realm and a two-time winner of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award, there should be few doubts that the Formula One world champion is admired and cherished in Britain.

Seven-time F1 title-winner Lewis Hamilton is the only Brit who has a serious claim to be the best ever in a truly global sportCredit: Reuters

Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes is way out in front of the opposition but he earned the right to race it, as he’s the finest driver of his generationCredit: EPA

There is nothing begrudging about the awarding of Hamilton’s knighthood in the New Year Honours list.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has — rightly or wrongly — bent the rules to swerve the issues of Hamilton’s status as a resident of Monaco’s tax haven.
Hamilton, 35, has to be seriously  considered as Britain’s greatest ever sportsman due to the simple fact that he is the only one with a genuine claim of being the greatest of all time in any truly global sport.

The ten greatest F1 drivers of all-time – according to SunSport’s motorsport correspondent Ben Hunt
That is without even considering he rose from a Hertfordshire council estate to become the first black F1 driver.

Hamilton’s 2020 was an extraordinary one — not only because he overtook Michael Schumacher’s record of 91  race victories and equalled the great German’s total of seven world titles.
This was the year when Hamilton truly found his voice as an outspoken advocate of greater diversity in a sport which has been slow to even recognise the issue.
He is still the only black man on the grid and has been defiant and fearless in highlighting the issue, as well as campaigning against racism in wider society.
It took time for him to grow into his role as a global spokesman but he has grasped the nettle and will not let go.

There will still be some dissenting voices about Hamilton becoming Sir Lewis — arguments about his tax status as well as groans about the uncompetitive nature of modern Formula One.
He was included on ‘the diplomatic and overseas’ section of the Honours list to circumvent the fact the taxman cannot fully probe his financial affairs.

Inspirational ex-Leeds Rhinos star Rob Burrow picks upan MBECredit: PA:Press Association
Yet most F1 drivers — who spend the  vast majority of the year globe-trotting as an occupational hazard — reside in tax havens and Hamilton does pay millions every year to the UK exchequer.
There is no doubt his outstanding Mercedes car makes him virtually invincible over the course of a season.
Yet there is also no argument that he earned the right to drive the fastest car as the most talented of his generation.
As his Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said last night: “Lewis is one of the very greatest racing drivers of all-time and the most successful British sportsperson of his era.
“This year, he combined his excellence on the track with a powerful voice to fight discrimination.

While Sir Andy Murray contests tennis Grand Slams and Sir Alastair Cook bats for Essex, Hamilton has greater claims to his honour than any other current star.

“In every sense, he led the way in 2020. The news he is to receive a knighthood shows he is now receiving the recognition he has earned during 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.”
Whether a sportsman should be knighted while he is still competing is another question.
Yet while Sir Andy Murray contests tennis Grand Slams and Sir Alastair Cook bats for Essex, Hamilton has greater claims to his honour than any other current star.
There will be no controversy over the MBE for inspirational former Leeds Rhinos rugby league player Rob Burrow, who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease last year and has campaigned to raise awareness of his illness.

Likewise, Bob Champion — who won the Grand National on Aldaniti in 1981 after recovering from cancer and has been steadfast in his charity work ever since — receiving a CBE.
Jimmy Greaves and Ron Flowers, the only living members of England’s 1966 World Cup-winning squad never to have been honoured, both earn MBEs.
Those awards are long overdue, though for Greaves — England’s greatest goalscorer and a hugely popular TV personality — the absence of a knighthood remains one of the strangest oversights in the murky honours system.

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LEWIS HAMILTON will be honoured with a knighthood as part of the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list.
This year, the Brit won the F1 championship for a record-equalling seventh time in while he also surpassed Michael Schumacher’s all-time win record of 91 victories.

Brit Lewis Hamilton is having his MBE upgraded to a knighthoodCredit: AFP

Seven-time F1 king Lewis Hamilton passed Michael Schumacher’s mark of 91 victories to become the sport’s greatest race-winnerCredit: Reuters

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff hailed team driver Lewis Hamilton as ‘the most successful British sportsperson of his era’Credit: PA:Press Association

The 35-year-old has been upgraded after he was awarded an MBE in 2008 for services to motor racing, while he has juggled his racing with raising awareness to equal rights, anti-racism and environmental causes.
Hamilton will join fellow motor-racing stars, Sir Stirling Moss, Sir Jackie Stewart and Sir Jack Brabham with knighthoods – as SunSport exclusively revealed he would back in November.
Williams founders Sir Frank Williams and Sir Patrick Head also had the honour bestowed upon them.

HAMILTON FACTFILE

HERE’S the full list of Lewis Hamilton’s F1 achievements

Drivers’ Titles 7Race Starts 266Race Wins 95 (35,7%)Pole Positions 98 (36,8%)Fastest Laps 53 (19,9%)Podiums 165 (62,0%)Points Finishes 229 (86,1%)Retirements 26 (9,8%)Hat-tricks 18Wins from pole 58Front Row Starts 158

The Stevenage-born racer won the title by 124 points and missed the penultimate race after being struck down with Covid-19.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said: “Lewis is one of the very greatest racing drivers of all time and the most successful British sportsperson of his era.
“Around the world, he has long been recognised for his sporting achievement; 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 during 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.”
Stefano Domenicali, the new CEO of F1, added: “Lewis is a true giant of our sport and his influence is huge both in and out of a car.

“What he has achieved is phenomenal with still more to come.
“All of us at Formula One congratulate him on this well-deserved recognition of his achievements and look forward to seeing more of his brilliance in 2021.”
Hamilton, whose current Mercedes contract expires on Thursday, is expected to put pen to paper on a two-year £40million a year deal.

Lewis Hamilton wins Sports Personality of the Year 2020 after passing F1 legend Michael Schumacher for most wins ever More

LEWIS HAMILTON will be knighted in the New Year Honours list after a personal request from Boris Johnson, it is reported. As The Sun exclusively revealed in November, the seven-time world champion, 35, is to be given the gong after his controversial tax affairs were deemed ‘all in order’. British PM Johnson was determined that […] More

F1 hopeful Emma Kimilainen has revealed that she once quit racing after her team told her to pose topless for a magazine.
The 31-year-old took a four-year hiatus from motorsport back in 2009 but has since become a star in the all-female W Series.

Emma Kimilainen has revealed she was once asked to pose toplessCredit: Getty Images – Getty

The W Series star has claimed the world was very different 10 years agoCredit: Instagram

And the Finnish driver has now lifted the lid on what almost drove her away from the sport for good.
Kimilainen has revealed her team had secured her a sponsor for the 2010 season that turned out to be a ‘high end men’s magazine’.
Speaking on the Shikaani Formula 1 Podcast, she admitted she walked away after being told her signing was dependent upon her posing topless.
As quoted by Portuguese outlet Record, she said: “A lot of things happened to me over my 28-year career.

I asked what was going on, until I realized that the partner was an erotic male magazine. I immediately refused
Emma Kimilainen

“I was preparing to perform on the team but I decided to ask for more details.
“They told me they had had some disagreements with the partner, they wanted pictures of me in a bikini and topless.
“I asked what was going on, until I realized that the partner was an erotic male magazine. I immediately refused.
“Today that proposal seems absurd and incorrect, but the world was very different 10 years ago with regard to women’s rights and equality in general.

“In competition there were girls with little clothes and women who showed a sexist image associated with the sex industry.
“I faced this with humor, as one of the crazy things that happened to me during these years.”
Kimilainen later took to Twitter to write: “I’m speechless of the amount of support. I’ll never be “the complainer” talking about “what if”s. My journey is still unfinished. Let’s race!”

Dont know what kind of truth serum I drank before the @shikaani podcast but it happened that I talked about things I’ve remained silent. Remaining silent is easier when you don’t want attention about things unrelated to your results and you don’t like drama. But here we are😅 1/6
— Emma Kimiläinen (@EmmaKimilainen) December 29, 2020

I’m speechless of the amount of support. 🙏 It’s incredibly hard to tell things like this because you don’t want them to affect negatively on your career. I’ll never be “the complainer” talking about “what if”s. My journey is still unfinished. Let’s race! https://t.co/NnH0gmVZDM
— Emma Kimiläinen (@EmmaKimilainen) December 29, 2020 More

JENSON BUTTON has welcomed a baby girl with fiancee Brittny Ward.
The Formula One legend, 40, revealed the news on Instagram with pictures of his partner and newborn daughter.

The couple became parents to a son, Hendrix, in 2019 and have now added daughter Lenny Monrow to their family.
Announcing their new arrival via his Instagram account, Button said: “Welcome Lenny Monrow Button.
“Mummy & Daddy are besotted already.
“She has the cutest little dimples like her big brother Hendrix.

“Britt is doing amazing and recovering well #babybutton.”
American model Ward, 30, announced the couple were expecting for a second time in June by posting an image of herself cradling her baby bump.
The ex-Playboy Playmate also kept her 300,000 Instagram followers updated with her progress, stripping off to display her growing bump in a black and white photo in October.
Button and Ward were forced to postpone their wedding for a second time in the summer due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Button and Ward got engaged in 2018 after two years of dating

Jenson Button and Brittny Ward previously welcomed son Hendrix in 2019

Hendrix’s surprise arrival in 2019 caused them to push back their original date.
Ward confirmed in May the pair’s nuptials will now take place in 2021.
The couple got engaged in 2018 after two years of dating.

Jenson Button’s ex-Playboy model fiancee Brittny Ward shows off growing baby bump at party More

MICK SCHUMACHER has hailed his dad Michael as the greatest of all time and admitted he’s OK with comparisons between the pair.
The 21-year-old is gearing up to follow in his father’s footsteps and make his Formula 1 debut next year.

Mick Schumacher is set to make his F1 debut next year

The German claimed his seven-time world champion father Michael is the nbest driverCredit: Getty – Contributor

Mick’s dad Michael is a seven-time world champion – tied with Lewis Hamilton who also beat his legendary 91-race win record.
Yet the German claimed his old man remains the best after insisting that he understands the constant comparisons with the 51-year-old.
He told Bild: “I’m OK with that; all the questions and comparisons with my father do not bother me.
“For me, he is the all-time best in this sport, to which he has given his all. I don’t see why I should disregard that.”

For me, he is the all-time best in this sport, to which he has given his all
Mick Schumacher on dad Michael

The Formula 1 season is set to start again in March and Mick, due to make his debut for Haas, admitted it will be a special moment for his family.
The Formula 2 champion added: “It will generally be a very special moment.”
It “will certainly be a very moving moment, but I want to stay focused on my objectives, my races and the work with the team.”
Schumacher Jr will partner fellow rookie Nikita Mazepin, the son of a Russian billionaire, who was confirmed at the start of the month.

The ten greatest F1 drivers of all-time – according to SunSport’s motorsport correspondent Ben Hunt

Schumacher Sr suffered a severe head trauma in a skiing accident in 2013.
The legendary German driver is thought to be continuing his recovery at a luxury villa in Majorca but his close friend and ex-Ferrari chief Jean Todt suggested the 51-year-old may be conscious.
And SunSport recently revealed the expertise he passed on to his son Mick before his accident continues to be helpful.

Mick Schumacher says the dream has always been to move into F1 More

SIR FRANK WILLIAMS has left hospital and is ‘on the mend at home’, according to his family.
The Formula One icon, who founded Williams in 1977 before turning it into one of the sport’s most successful teams, had been in hospital with an unknown medical condition.

Sir Frank Williams is at home for Christmas after being released from hospitalCredit: Reuters

Williams was described as ‘stable’ earlier this month, with his medical condition kept private.
And the 78 year old’s family have now released a statement revealing he is now at home for Christmas.
It read: “We’re delighted to say that Sir Frank has been discharged from hospital and is now on the mend at home.
“The Williams family would like to thank everyone for their support during this difficult time, and to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.”

It follows a previous statement released on December 15, which said: “Sir Frank Williams has recently been admitting to hospital where he is currently in a stable condition.
“Frank’s medical condition is a private matter and therefore the family will not be releasing any further details at this time.
“We ask for you to respect the family’s privacy. The team will release a further update in due course.”
Williams has used a wheelchair since a car accident in France, on 8 March 1986, rendered him tetraplegic. 

Williams is one of Formula One’s greatest legendsCredit: Getty Images – Getty

He has two sons, Jonathan and Jamie and daughter Claire, with his late wife Virginia, who passed away in 2013 aged 66.
The Williams family left the team Sir Frank found over 40 years ago in September.
After a series of difficult years, the team was sold to US investment group Dorilton Capital In August, with Sir Frank and Claire, the deputy team principal, both stepping down.
Williams won nine constructors’ championships and seven drivers’ titles, and they dominated F1 for large portions of the 1980s and 1990s.
But their last win at a Grand Prix occurred in 2012 and for the past two seasons they finished last in the championship.
Due to financial losses last year, the Williams family sought out new investment, and that led to them leaving the team to make way for new management.

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NIKITA MAZEPIN will race for Haas next season in F1 despite a controversial video online.
The F1 team reaffirmed their commitment to the Russian driver to race alongside Mick Schumacher.

Nikita Mazepin will race for Haas next season, the F1 team confirmedCredit: Getty Images

That’s despite the 21-year-old posting a video of him groping a woman’s chest.
Haas, however, say the matter has been dealt with and the Russian will keep his race seat next season.
A statement read: “Haas F1 Team would like to reaffirm that Nikita Mazepin and Mick Schumacher will form its driver lineup for the 2021 FIA Formula 1 World Championship.
“As per the team’s previous statement regarding the actions of Nikita Mazepin (December 9) – this matter has now been dealt with internally and no further comment shall be made.”

The Haas F1 team previously condemned the 21-year-old’s behaviour.
Team boss Gunther Steiner said: “We take it very seriously, as you saw with what we sent out. I just want to reinforce that, that we will deal with it.
“I’m not going into detail on what we’ll do and how we’ll do it, but we take it seriously, and we will work to sort this out, what happened. Nothing more to say.”
Mazepin is no stranger to controversy both on and off the track.

Nikita Mazepin in action for Hitech during the 2020 F2 seasonCredit: Getty Images
During his final F2 race in Bahrain last weekend he picked up two penalty points to take his tally to 11 – one short of a one-race ban.
And in 2016, he was banned from a European Formula 3 race for punching Brit Callum Ilott.
Steiner added: “That is part of it, what we’re going to speak to him about privately.
“I don’t want to go public on how we are doing this. I just go back, I don’t want to comment any more.
“I guess I ask people to respect that privacy, because we treat it seriously. But we will deal with it.”
F1 and the FIA issued a joint statement to support Haas and condemn Mazepin’s behaviour.
It said: “The ethical principles and diverse and inclusive culture of our sport are of the utmost importance to the FIA and Formula One.”
Having deleted the post, Mazepin apologised for his actions, insisting he must hold himself ‘to a higher standard’.
He wrote: “I would like to apologise for my recent actions both in terms of my own inappropriate behaviour and the fact that it was posted onto social media.
“I am sorry for the offense I have rightly caused and to the embarrassment I have brought to Haas F1 Team.
“I have to hold myself to a higher standard as a Formula 1 driver and I acknowledge I have let myself and many people down.
“I promise I will learn from this.”

A woman who claims to have been in the video, however, has insisted the incident was an ‘internal joke’ between ‘friends’.
She wrote: “Hi guys, I just want to let you know Nikita and I have been good friends for a long time and nothing from the video was serious at all!
“We trust each other so much and this was a silly way of joking between us.
“I posted the video on his story as an internal joke. I am truly sorry.
“I can give you my word he’s a really good person and he would never do anything to hurt or humiliate me.” More