We should all learn to love champ Lewis

LEWIS HAMILTON was recently crowned Formula One champion for the sixth time and is one of this country’s greatest ever sportsmen.

But is the Mercedes racer underappreciated? Undercelebrated? Even disliked? And, if so, why?

Hamilton is brilliant. Developed from a young age, he was always a champion in the making and is fulfilling that promise to be one of F1’s best ever drivers.

Yet, in winning his sixth world championship, there didn’t seem to be the outpouring of celebration that you might expect in Britain.

Alastair Cook has already been knighted, whereas Hamilton has only received an MBE.

But James Anderson’s achievements easily match Cook’s and he is also yet to be knighted.

Timing can be everything with the Queen’s Honours List.

However, the truth is that Hamilton is underappreciated and that’s because the public don’t see him as ‘British’ enough.

The public just don’t connect with him in the same way they do with other sporting stars.

Hamilton is flash and more likely to be seen at Paris Fashion Week than doing a feature on Football Focus about supporting his local team.

Unfairly, I may add, Hamilton is perceived as more ‘international’ than ‘British’. He has also said one or two things in the media that have drawn criticism and that hasn’t helped. But which sporting star hasn’t said something at some point that has annoyed people?

I think Hamilton is treated a little unfairly, but this won’t last forever. There have been many other stars who have taken longer to get the public’s full appreciation. Lennox Lewis, due to his Canadian accent, had a similar challenge but he was eventually given the right level of praise he deserved. Once upon a time, Andy Murray (above) wasn’t even that popular!

It will come to Hamilton in good time. His PR people will need to play their part in this as well and some wellplaced roles in Sport Relief never harmed David Beckham.

Lewis Hamilton is someone that Britain should be enormously proud of. He is a credit to his sport and an incredible talent.

Let’s fully appreciate him but he need not worry, it will come to him eventually.

Sam Quek is an ambassador for footie5, a weekly freeto-play football game where you can win £25,000 by predicting the scores of five matches from across the English and Scottish leagues.

I RECENTLY attended the amazing Pride of Britain Awards and was fortunate enough to sit on the same table as Ryan Giggs.

I asked him his thoughts on VAR, his response: ‘Seriously, when I think of VAR, I can’t even remember what we talked about before that!’. I replied ‘Brexit’!