No place for Hamilton on New Years Honours list
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Reigning Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton is once again absent from the Queen’s New Years Honours List after the 2019 selections were revealed.A possible knighthood continues to elude Hamilton, who won his sixth drivers’ F1 world title and helped Mercedes claim a historic sixth straight world championship double this year.The 34-year-old received an MBE in 2008 after sealing his first world title with McLaren but he has failed to make the New Years Honours List since.Fellow Briton and 2009 world champion Jenson Button is also an MBE, while three F1 drivers have been made sirs following their respective retirements: Jackie Steward, Stirling Moss and Jack Brabham.Hamilton’s latest F1 success has seen him become only the second driver in history to win sixth or more world championships, moving him one title shy of matching Michael Schumacher’s all-time record of seven.He took 10 grand prix victories in 2019 to edge to within seven wins of Schumacher’s record total of 91.Speaking at the end of the season in December, Dave Richards, the head of British motor racing’s governing body, backed Hamilton for recognition.“I can’t think of anyone more worthy of that recognition than Lewis,” he said.“It would be a major oversight if that is not recognised in the new year honours.“Lewis is far more remarkable in that he did not come from a privileged background,” Richards added.“He and his father worked incredibly hard to get into karting and up the steps of the ladder. It was sheer hard graft, not gifted to him on a plate.“They made huge sacrifices and that makes his achievements even more extraordinary.””4Hamilton has previously refused to get carried away with the prospect of receiving a knighthood, insisting it has never been something he has been “chasing”.“I don’t really like to think too much about it,” Hamilton explained at the Brazilian Grand Prix.“Just the fact that people have mentioned it, it’s already an honour, but it’s not been something that I’ve been chasing in my life.“If, at any point, that was to happen, I don’t particularly know how I would handle it. I have stood in front of Her Majesty The Queen before and it was pretty incredible and I think she’s just awesome.“Again, I don’t think it’s going to happen, and again, it doesn’t bother me if it doesn’t.“It doesn’t mean I’m not British. It doesn’t mean I’m not continuing to try and raise the flag as well as I can but I do appreciate all the support I’ve had from my fans and also from the British media.”Those to have made the 2019 shortlist from the world of sport include four members of England’s Cricket World Cup winning squad.All-rounder Ben Stokes has become an OBE, with team captain Eoin Morgan receiving a CBE and wicketkeeper Jos Buttler and batsman and England test captain Joe Root both becoming MBEs.
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