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The Mercedes Formula 1 driver secured his first win of the season last weekend at the Styrian Grand Prix. But Lewis Hamilton has also received praise for taking a knee before both races completed so far, while encouraging other drivers to do the same. He applauded his Mercedes team for joining in with the demonstration, as well as other drivers. However, four of the drivers present did not take a knee, provoking Hamilton to appeal for more backing. He told Sky Sports F1: “It’s not something I asked for them to do, but it’s a beautiful thing. It doesn’t take a lot to do something like that, and it’s not changing the world, but perhaps shifting perceptions and shifting ideals. We’ll just keep going.”

The victory in Austria means Hamilton now has 86 grand prix victories – just six short of all time leading race winner Michael Schumacher.

In 2019, several key figures suggested he should receive a knighthood, not just because of his sporting triumphs, but also his tax and charity contributions.

David Richards, chairman of Motorsport UK, and Lord Hain, the former Labour cabinet member, wrote to Prime Minister Boris Johnson making the case for Hamilton’s recognition in the New Year honours.

Hamilton did not receive any award – and Lord Hain tells Express.co.uk that he cannot understand why.

He said: “I can’t believe race would be a factor in it and it better not be.

“What you cannot take away from his is his fundamental decency and his extraordinary and unique ability.

“No one has achieved what he has achieved in Formula 1, he is peerless – no one said Andy Murray was peerless, though he was fantastic at his peak.

“Nobody said Bradley Wiggins was peerless, he was the top. Lewis Hamilton is right above anybody in one of the most difficult sports to master.”

Lord Hain, who serves on the All Party Parliamentary Group for F1, researched the claim that Hamilton — despite living in Monaco — is among the UK’s 5,000 biggest taxpayers.

The Mercedes star’s earnings allow him to contribute a significant amount to the exchequer while working in Britain, where his team is based.

Despite this, Hamilton has come under fire for where he lives.

Lord Hain told Express.co.uk this week: “Hamilton has a home in Britain, he pays taxes in Britain – he works around the world and he works in music and fashion in America.

“But he pays tax in Britain – so there is no excuse not to give him a knighthood.”

Lord Hain also said that Hamilton has proved why sports stars should speak out on issues outside of the sport.

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Hamilton encouraged other drivers to take the knee in support of Black Lives Matter in the first two races of the season, and even joined protests in London last month.

Lord Hain added: “He is a Briton to be proud of and is a role model for other sports people of any colour.

“I think it’s good that Raheem Sterling and Marcus Rashford have been vocal, Megan Rapinoe is another example.

“There’s been a break from the idea that sports people should be seen on the pitch or the track but never heard.

“It’s good that sports people are speaking out on social justice and morality and Lewis has done that admirably.”

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