7-time F1 champ Lewis Hamilton has been dubbed a knight

Seven-time Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton may have failed to secure his eighth Drivers' title (under rather controversial circumstances) but the 36-year old F1 veteran did receive something special when he returned home to the UK.

Late last year it was announced that Hamilton was being made a knight during the Queen's New Year's Honors. That would mean he is no longer Lewis Hamilton but rather Sir Lewis Hamilton. The official knighting ceremony, however, only took place yesterday.

Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, presided over the ceremony at Windsor Castle to bestow the knighthood to Hamilton as he was made a Knight Bachelor. This would not be the first time he was honored by Buckingham Palace as he was first made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2009 by Queen Elizabeth II. 

Hamilton was accompanied by his mother, Carmen Larbalestier, who personally witnessed her son become the latest F1 driver to be knighted in history.

This makes him the fourth F1 driver to be knighted by the Royal Family, as well as the first to receive his knighthood while still competing in motorsport. Hamilton is now also the current youngest F1 driver to receive the honor. He now joins the likes of Sir Jackie Stewart, the late Sir Jack Brabham who died in May 2014, Sir Stirling Moss who passed away last year, and F1 legend Sir Frank Williams who recently passed away.

This is the first time Hamilton made a public appearance following the controversial finish of the Abu Dhabi GP which resulted in his last-lap defeat against Max Verstappen. The Silver Arrows did, however, take a record eighth consecutive Constructors' Championship thanks to Hamilton finishing in second and Bottas ending the race in sixth place.

Hamilton is set to attend the end-of-season FIA Prize Giving Ceremony in Paris this week alongside the newly-crowned champion, Max Verstappen.