Lewis Hamilton ‘will have his tax status vetted before a decision on whether to award him a knighthood is made’ amid concerns over his residence in tax haven Monaco… despite calls for the F1 superstar to be recognised after he won a seventh world title
- Lewis Hamilton will reportedly have his tax status vetted amid honours decision
- There has been a clamour for the star to be recognised after his seventh F1 title
- Hamilton lives in Monaco, a tax haven, which is said to have raised concerns from decision makers
- The 35-year-old’s latest achievement draws him level with Michael Schumacher
Lewis Hamilton‘s tax status will reportedly be vetted before a decision is made on whether the seven-time Formula One world champion will receive a knighthood in the New Year Honours list.
The 35-year-old made history last weekend, with his win at the Turkish Grand Prix sealing yet another title triumph, moving the Briton level with Michael Schumacher’s record of seven wins.
Fans have been campaigning for Hamilton’s remarkable achievement to be recognised with a knighthood. But The Times reports that the Brit’s place of residence, in tax-haven Monaco, is under scrutiny.
Lewis Hamilton’s tax status will be vetted before a decision on a knighthood is made
Calls have grown for the Brit to be honoured after he won his seventh F1 world championship
Those calling for Hamilton to be knighted argue, however, that the 35-year-old is among the top 5,000 taxpayers in the UK despite his place of residence.
The report also claims that those responsible for deciding whether Hamilton is honoured will determine whether to bestow a knighthood on the champion now, or when his career comes to an end.
Hamilton has responded to the clamour that he should be awarded a knighthood following his latest triumph.
Speaking about a potential knighthood, Hamilton said: ‘When I think about that honour of being knighted, I think about people like my grandad who served in the war.
Hamilton resides in Monaco, a tax haven, causing concern among honours decision makers
‘Captain Tom [Moore] waited 100 years for that great honour, and then you have these doctors and nurses, who are saving lives during this hardest time ever.
‘I think about those unsung heroes and I don’t look at myself as an unsung hero. I haven’t saved anybody. It is an incredible honour that a small number of people have bestowed on them.
‘I hear the national anthem and I am a very proud Brit. It is a special moment to be up there representing a nation and having the flag over your head.’
Hamilton’s victory this weekend has put him among the the greatest athletes British sport has produced, with the driver joining the likes of Sir Andy Murray and Sir Steve Redgrave as the greatest ever.
Lord Hain, chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for F1 has been championing Hamilton’s claim for an honour. The Mercedes star received an MBE in 2008.
The 35-year-old described the knighthood as an ‘incredible honour’ but spoke of ‘unsung heroes’ like Captain Tom Moore and the doctors and nurses fighting the Covid-19 pandemic
Hamilton referenced Captain Tom Moore, 100, who received a knighthood this year after raising over £30million for NHS charities by walking laps of his garden during lockdown
Hamilton will now look to go one further than Schumacher and clinch an eighth world championship. The 35-year-old feels he is in great shape to push for an unprecedented eighth.
‘I feel physically in great shape,’ he said after the race in Istanbul. ‘This year has been the hardest year for millions of people. I know things always look great on the big stage but it is no different for us athletes. It has been a challenge.
‘I didn’t know how to get through it but with the help of a great team around me I have managed to keep my head about water and stay focused.
‘I am really hopeful for a better year and I would love to stay. We only have just begun in our work to hold ourselves accountable as a sport, to realise that we cannot ignore the human rights issues with the countries we go to.
‘I want to help Formula One. I want to help Mercedes in that journey.’
The 35-year-old was honoured with an MBE in 2008 following his first world championship
