Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton has been knighted in a New Year Honours list. It comes 12 years after he received an MBE for services to motor racing at the end of 2008, the season that he won his first world championship title.

Hamilton took his seventh title in November. His knighthood comes after he equalled Michael Schumacher's title record and was voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year for a second time.

The 35 year old was made an MBE in 2008 after winning his first F1 championship, but the Hertfordshire-born driver was reportedly previously overlooked for the top honour amid questions about his tax arrangements.

This year Motorsport UK launched a campaign with the All Party Parliamentary Group for Formula One for him to be nominated, with the organisation suggesting his business dealings had been "misunderstood".

He is also leading an almost ‘one-man’ fight against racism in his sport and says that the Black Lives Matter movement helped drive him on to his seventh Formula 1 world title – and further. He took a knee on the grid and wore anti-racism slogans in support of the cause during the season.

The Briton's Mercedes team also adopted a black livery for the 2020 campaign in a stand against discrimination.

As well as Black Lives Matter, Lewis also heads the ‘Hamilton Commission’ programme, which he set up to increase diversity in motorsport, the power of sport to bring positive change, electric cars and animal rights.

Ex-footballer Jimmy Greaves and musician Craig David become MBEs.