Sir Andy Murray says Lewis Hamilton ‘deserves’ knighthood despite admitting he doesn’t like sports stars being honoured
LEWIS HAMILTON 'deserves' to be knighted, according to Sir Andy Murray - despite the tennis star's dislike of sportspeople being honoured.
Seven-time Formula One world champion Hamilton, 35, is to be given the gong for his services to sport and tireless campaigning for racial equality and diversity.
The F1 ace is set to be awarded his knighthood after equalling Michael Schumacher's record tally - after his controversial tax affairs were deemed 'all in order'.
And Murray - himself knighted for his services to tennis and charity in 2019 - has revealed he believes Hamilton is fully deserving of the honour.
Murray told Good Morning Britain: “I’m not necessarily all for sportspeople being given knighthoods for what we do.
"In terms of what he’s achieved as an athlete, of course he deserves it.
"As a sportsperson, he’s one of the most successful sportspeople in the history of the country.
"He’s an amazing driver, he supports some great causes as well away from the racing track.
“So yeah, I would say he definitely deserves it in terms of his achievements.”
Hamilton is expected to be named in the New Years' Honours list - with Prime Minister Boris Johnson believed to have given his backing to the racing superstar.
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Hamilton, worth an estimated £250million and resident of tax haven Monaco, recently had his finances green-lit by the Government’s Honours Committee.
On his upcoming knighthood, a friend said: “This is an honour that has eluded Lewis for so many years.
“It marks an incredible end to the most wonderful season.”
However, snooker star Ronnie O'Sullivan reckons Hamilton can't be considered one of sport's all-time greats because his car gives him an unfair advantage.
'Rocket' snubbed Hamilton from his list of all-time greats because F1 is not "a level playing field".
O'Sullivan said: "It is fantastic for Lewis to win seven world titles, but if your car is going around quicker you can afford to make a few mistakes and still get away with it.
"It’s a bit like driving around smoking a cigar with one finger on the wheel.
"A lot of the sports I watch - the people that have done it, you have to look whether it’s a level playing field.
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"If you have a car that is going a second a lap quicker than the other cars, in theory all he has to beat is his team-mate Bottas – who seems to be comfortable and happy playing second fiddle.
"I wouldn’t have felt as good about my career in snooker if I had been playing on a table where the pockets I was using were bigger than my opponents'."