It was announced earlier this year that Lewis Hamilton would be awarded honorary citizenship of Brazil. Ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix, the Mercedes driver attended a ceremony on Monday afternoon where he was officially declared an honorary citizen and presented with a corresponding medal. The president of the Chamber of Deputies could not resist making a reference to the decisive race in Abu Dhabi last year.
Hamilton receives honorary citizenship Brazil
Hamilton was officially declared an honorary citizen of Brazil at the Chamber of Deputies. Arthur Lira, president of the Chamber of Deputies, made a reference in his speech to the finale of the 2021 Formula One season. Lira stated that Hamilton was "robbed" and addressed him as an "eight-time world champion", much to the delight of the Mercedes driver and those present in the room.
Hamilton has spoken several times in the past about his idol, Ayrton Senna. After he waved the Brazilian flag after his victory in 2021, Congressman Andre Figueiredo decided that a honorary citizenship was in order. In 2017, Hamilton also received a special gift when the Senna family gave him a helmet of his idol after Hamilton equalled his 65th pole position.