Despite a disappointing season which saw his all dominant Formula One racing team fall from grave and his team mate bring home a bigger share of the bacon, Lewis Hamilton is still a joint record holder with Michael Schumacher as a 7 times world champion. Hamilton will in all probability have a more peaceful Christmas in 2022 than the previous year.

Due to the interference in the calendar of Coronavirus, the 2021 F1 season only concluded on the 12th December. The race was one of the more controversial in recent times as race director Michael Massi decided the season would not finish behind the safety car. 

2021 the Christmas of nightmares

The rest is history. Mercedes gamble not to change Hamilton’s tyres while Red Bull gave Verstappen fresh rubber saw the Dutchman sail past Hamilton at turn 5 on the last lap and claim the race victory and steal Hamilton’s potential 8th world title.

Due to the poor design of there W13 Mercedes car, Lewis was never in with a shout to win the title in 2022, though his team mate Russell did win both a Sprint and the Grand Prix held in Sau Paulo, Brazil.

Hamilton is now associated with race equality rights and also the promotion of diversity, but it wasn’t always so.

Lewis’ ghost of Christmas past

Here comes Hamilton’s Ghost of Christmas Past.

Five years ago, after clawing back the world title he lost out to Nico Rosberg in 2016, Hamilton posted on Instagram about his family’s Christmas meal.

“I’m so sad right now. Look at my nephew,” Lewis said  then he moved the camera onto his nephew who was wearing a purple and pink dress and waving a princess toy wand.

Lewis asked the kid, “Why are you wearing a princess dress? Is this what you got for Christmas? Why did you ask for a princess dress for Christmas? Boys don’t wear princess dresses!”

Hamilton’s criticised for lack of inclusion

Lewis was then overwhelmed by the criticism and abuse on social media from those condemning his rejection of the LGBTQ+ community.

In particular British artist Travis Alabanza wrote on twitter:“I hope @LewisHamilton properly thinks and apologises to his nephew for that video. Thinks about why it is so horrible, and considers donating to a charity which supports LGBT youth. That video is a video so many of us have experienced. Gross. It sticks with you.”

Liam Hackett of the anti-bullying charity Ditch the Label, added: “Disappointing to see somebody with such a huge platform use it to publicly shame and attempt to undermine a small child.”

The following day Lewis took to social media to make amends.

Lewis Hamilton apologises

“Yesterday I was playing around with my nephew and realised that my words were inappropriate so I removed the post.

“I meant no harm and did not mean to offend anyone at all. I love that my nephew feels free to express himself as we all should. My deepest apologies for my behaviour as I realise it is really not acceptable in the world today for anyone, no matter where you are from, to marginalise or stereotype anyone.

“I have always been in support of anyone living their life exactly how they wish and I hope I can be forgiven for this lapse of judgement.”

Six months later, Hamilton appeared on the cover of GQ magazine and was pictured on Instagram himself wearing a skirt with the publisher’s logo saying, “I was to make amends.”

Hamilton makes amends

Lewis has since then associated himself with a number of causes such as Black Lives Matter and established the Hamilton Commission whose terms of reference state, “This Hamilton Commission will seek to improve the representation of Black people in UK motorsport.

“For the purposes of this research the term Black people includes Black African, Black Caribbean, Black British and those with mixed heritage Black African or Black Caribbean backgrounds.”

Further Lewis has established his Mission 44 charity whose goal is “Seeking to transform the lives of young people from underserved backgrounds.”

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Too good not to share again. 🤩 A festive message from W03. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/HVuNKODg3K

— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) December 24, 2022