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Lewis Hamilton on 'heart-warming' 2020 support and knighthood reports

Lewis Hamilton: "I really am so grateful for the love and support that I've received, particularly from the UK. That for me has felt really heart-warming"; Ahead of his first race as a seven-time champion, he also spoke about human rights and reports he could be in line for a knighthood

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Lewis Hamilton admits winning his seventh championship hasn't 'sunk in yet' and says he has been heart-warmed by home support from the United Kingdom

Lewis Hamilton says he has been touched by the support he has received from around the UK, as he reflected on a 2020 in which he has combined record-breaking F1 achievement with "a year of being outspoken" in calling for change.

Hamilton competes as a seven-time F1 champion for the first time in this weekend's Bahrain GP after securing his historic record-equalling title a fortnight ago in Turkey. The British driver is also being tipped for a knighthood - and admitted on Thursday: "I would never, ever turn down the Royal Family."

Alongside his sporting success has been the Briton's activism and leading role in fighting for equality as part of the Black Lives Matter movement. Hamilton first spoke out in May by challenging F1 and wider society to say more following the death of George Floyd in America.

Hamilton was last week named the most influential black person in the UK, and on Thursday was awarded GQ magazine's Game Changer Of The Year title.

Speaking in Bahrain to Sky Sports, Hamilton said: "In a year that's been such a challenge and such a difficult year in so many ways - and there have been so many difficult moments in the year for everyone - trying every day to see the positives that we can take into the future, into 2021, and trying to look at it as a glass half full.

"I remember back earlier in the year when I had posted 'I see you out there', I had no idea what the response was going to be but that was what was on my heart.

"So it's been a year of being outspoken… I wasn't really bothered whether it was going to fly or not because that was just me being open, but it's been amazing to see the response.

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"There has been some ground-breaking steps and I think we've just got to make sure we continue with it.

"I really am so grateful for the love and support that I've received, particularly from the UK. That for me has felt really heart-warming."

Hamilton: 'We can always do more' on human rights

Reiterating calls he made in the wake of sealing his seventh title, Hamilton said F1 needed "to do more" with its platform to address the issue of human rights in some countries it visits.

Hamilton said he had received letters from campaign groups on his arrival at the Sakhir circuit and would take time to study them.

"The human rights issue in so many of the places that we go to is a consistent and a massive problem," said Hamilton in the Thursday press conference. "This year has shown how important it is, not only for us as a sport, but for all the sports around the world, to utilise their platforms to push for change.

"We are the only sport that goes to so many different countries, but I do think as a sport we need to do more. We have taken a step in that direction but we can always do more.

"Some steps have been put in place for the countries we go to, but it is important to make sure that they are implemented in the right way and it is not just a saying that we are going to do something, but actually seeing action taken. That is going to take work from us all in the background."

An F1 spokesperson said: "We have always been clear with all race promoters and governments with which we deal worldwide that we take violence, abuse of human rights and repression very seriously.

"We have made our position on human rights clear to all our partners and host countries who commit to respect human rights in the way their events are hosted and delivered."

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Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas talk to the media ahead of the Bahrain GP

Hamilton on 'surreal' knighthood discussions

Hamilton's achievement in becoming the most successful F1 driver of all time has heightened calls for the 35-year-old, currently an MBE, to be knighted in the New Year Honours List.

Following reports over the weekend that Hamilton had been personally recommended for a knighthood by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the Mercedes driver said: "Firstly, I would never, ever turn down the Royal Family.

"I've grown up in the UK and am an avid fan of them. I've grown up watching the news like everyone else, and then your name is mentioned in the House of Commons or in Parliament, it's very, very surreal to hear that with all the things that are going on in the world they have a moment to mention and acknowledge the work that I've done.

"So it's definitely a surreal experience seeing that. But as far as I'm aware, there's a lot of talk and so not really thought a lot about it.

"But it would be an incredible honour. There is no greater honour I think than your country recognising you and honouring you with such an award."

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Simon Lazenby and Martin Brundle look ahead to this weekend's Bahrain GP

Why seventh title hasn't 'sunk in' yet for Hamilton

Back in the F1 paddock for the first time as just the second driver to reach seven world titles in the sport's history, Hamilton was asked how he reflected on the achievement nearly two weeks on.

"I have a lot of messages that are just sitting there and I've just tried to be present in the moment rather than focused on staring at a phone or a laptop or something like that," he told Sky's Craig Slater.

"Which is daunting because when I've got to switch that on and get back into it, it's going to take days to catch up! But the support has been incredible, both in the UK and all over, and I guess really the most important part was speaking to family and spending some time with my dad and my brother.

"It's not sunk in. I think it's because I've still got three races to go so you've still got to kind of keep one foot in the circle and one eye on the ball at least. I'm still in that competitive mindset.

"Perhaps at the end of the year things will hit home a little bit harder."

Hamilton can still match yet another Michael Schumacher record in the remaining three races of the 2020 season. The Mercedes driver has 10 race wins so far this year and three more would tie the single-season record of 13 held jointly by Schumacher (2004) and Sebastian Vettel (2013).

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