Why Lewis Hamilton Doesn't Deserve an MBE from the Queen

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/99384-why-lewis-hamilton-doesnt-deserve-an-mbe-from-the-queen


Why Lewis Hamilton Doesn't Deserve an MBE from the Queen

by John Evans

It is perceived that awards to persons by the Queen are given to recognise charitable, selfless works, and exceptional achievements of individuals.

In what was one of the most exciting, and dramatic conclusions to the 2008 Formula One championship, Toyota driver Timo Glock decided that he couldn't cope as well with his "tyre problems" into the final corner on the last lap (even though he managed pretty well the previous five laps)—and thus slowed down, resulting in Lewis Hamilton's becoming a Formula One World Champion.

Since Damon Hill's world championship with Williams back in 1996, Britain has not had a Formula One World Champion, so Lewis Hamilton certainly puts the pole position back to Great Britain, even though arguably it is difficult to asses his full potential should he be in a less competitive car.

So now he's getting and MBE from the Queen, Hamilton says that he's humbled about receiving it....

Yes, Lewis Hamilton is one of the most promising drivers Great Britian's ever had, but in my opinion he's not a proud Englishman, and recognition has to be given for the incredible support and private education he received at a young age from McLaren.

Equally talented young sports stars should be recognised for their achievements many having not recieved the financial rewards that Lewis Hamilton has.

At the start of the 2007 season, Lewis claimed to the world that he'd never leave Great Britain and move abroad. A few months into the season we learned that he couldn't take the apparent "pressure" he was receiving and moved straight to Switzerland which is a tax haven.

My question to the readers at Bleacher Report is:

Why was Lewis Hamilton awarded an MBE when he turned his back on this country very soon after arriving in Formula One, and when he refuses to support the country with his obvious reluctance to pay taxes here, as equally famous celebrities and sports personalities do?


Let the games begin!

 

John Evans is an idiot with a chip on his shoulder.

It's obvious to anyone with IQ that reaches the double digits that it would be impossible for there to have been any shenanigans in the last race that won Lewis the WDC. So for this cretin to bring it up is just proof that he's a sourpuss whiner who chooses to believe impossible conspiracies rather than acknowledge the performance of a champion.

Furthermore, as for leaving the UK to avoid taxes... that's something that a huge number of rich British folks do. Including Bernie Ecclestone, Max Mosley, and I am sure lots of others (how many F1 drivers live in Switzerland? It's not because they all just love the scenery there). Tons of people who are British Citizens have their OBE/MBE or any other honors and do not live in the UK so they can avoid the stifling taxes. Harping on this point is like complaining about a charity that does a lot of work in California but who is a registered corporation of Delaware (as tons are). British honors do not correlate to taxes, and never have.

Finally, for this whiner to suggest that Hamilton has done nothing for the sport is laughable. He very nearly won the WDC in his first year and he did win it in his second year. He has resurrected British interest in F1 and has been a great spokesman for the sport and a great role model for young people. It's common practive for honors to be awared when a person accomplishes something major in their sport, and it doesn't get awarded only years after the fact. Hamilton won in 2008, so it's fitting he would be honored in 2008.

 

Did Mansell or Hill get one from the queen when they won? If they did I'd say Hamilton should get one too. Otherwise, I'd think he didn't deserve it. He's no more British or better than they were. Mansell for one showed true grit and determination just getting into F1 as well as in his driving.

 

+100
Too right .....the Beacher report .. more like the Tosser report.

 

Mansell and Hill are actually both OBE's which is a level higher up than Hamilton's MBE. Generally you have to do more to get successively higher levels. Jackie Stewart, in addition to being an OBE was also knighted which makes him "Sir Jackie Stewart".

 

It looks like the MBE is regularly handed out to entertainers.

 

Then to me at least there's no reason why he shouldn't have it. Why do they hate this kid so much in his own country?

 

+1

Hamilton deserves every honor and accolade for what he did in his first two years in F1 already.

 

Really? For doing his (extremely well paid) job and being good at it?

 

That definition applies to a lot of other MBE honorees.

 

Didn't almost 1000 other people also get this award too?

 

Why doesn't DC have one? He is the all-time British points leader in F1 and was always at the top of the championship race in the mid 90s and is near the top of many F1 records.

 

Because DC, like Jensen, is a plunker. At least LH carries himself well.

 

Because he never won WDC.

 

Who cares?

I mean really.

The lad is an F1 WDC Champ, earns a bucket of money and has his pick of the litter from the women on this planet.

Jealous? Why?

I say, cheers, and offer a toast to him.

 

so, he doesn't deserve it because he left Britain to go and live somewhere else? what BS...

 

COUGH*COUGH*MANCRUSH*COUGH

 

Because Britian doesn't even have an empire. So how can someone get an award for being a "Member of British Empire" MBE if it doesn't have one.

 

I cant beleve you said that "SIR ENZO" of Blackpool in England You must have an OBE then