Arise Sir Lewis Hamilton!

Stevenage's former boy racer has been handed a knighthood in the Queen's new years honours list.

The honour has crowned an excellent few weeks after Stevenage's F1 world champ also won the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year.

The former John Henry Newman pupil becomes only the fourth F1 driver to be knighted after two fellow Britons, Sir Stirling Moss and Sir Jackie Stewart, and Australia's Sir Jack Brabham.

The prestigious honour comes after an impressive year for the 35-year-old on and off the track, which included equalling Michael Schumacher's record of seven Formula One world titles, while becoming an increasingly powerful voice for diversity in his sport,

Hamilton has also won plaudits out of the car for his social campaigning on human rights, racism, equal rights and environmentalism.

There had been questions raised over the award given he lives in the tax haven of Monaco.

However, it was reported that the Prime Minister Borois Johnson had personally intervened to make sure Hamilton would be hailed for his sporting achievements - with the Lister Hospital born racer recognised through the 'diplomatic and overseas' list rather than the domestic list to avoid concerns over his tax returns.

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