As opposed to attending the FIA Hall of Fame induction ceremony, four-time Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton chose to attend the Fashion Awards.
Lewis Hamilton, 32, who just won the 2017 Formula One championship, his third in the last four seasons, opted not to attend the inaugural FIA Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Paris, France. Instead, the four-time champion decided to attend the Fashion Awards in London, England.
Hamilton’s decision has caused a stir in the Formula One world, as there are many that feel his decision was disrespectful seeing as how all 33 Formula One champions were inducted into the Hall of Fame. Nine of them attended, and Hamilton very well could have been one of them, but he opted not to be.
The nine that attended were four-time champions Alain Prost and Sebastian Vettel, three-time champion Jackie Stewart, two-time champion Fernando Alonso, and one-time champions Mario Andretti, Damon Hill, Nigel Mansell, Nico Rosberg and Jacques Villeneuve.
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The one-time Formula One champions were the first to be celebrated, followed by the two and three-time champions. When they got to the five drivers who are four, five or seven-time champions, however, Hamilton stood out — by not being there.
Hamilton was the only four-time champion not in attendance, as Alain Prost and Sebastian Vettel were there, as referenced above. Juan Manuel Fangio, the sport’s lone five-time champion, passed away in 1995. Michael Schumacher, the sport’s lone seven-time champion, is still recovering from a skiing accident in which he was involved back in 2013, so he was physically unable to be there as well.
So of the five drivers who have won four or more Formula One championships throughout their careers, Hamilton was the only one not in attendance that very well could have been.
Sabine Kehm, Michael Schumacher’s manager, had this to say, according to Formula1.com, after accepting the award on behalf of the seven-time champion. Depending on how you view Hamilton’s decision to skip the ceremony, Kehm’s words really put it all in perspective.
"“We all know Michael should be here and I am totally sure he would love to be here.“He always had the highest respect for everyone in this room and he would be very honoured. What made Michael so special, what made him so successful was, as with everybody in this room, a love and passion for this sport.”"
Hamilton, meanwhile, was at the Fashion Awards in London, England along with a number of other prominent individuals, including Conor McGregor, Donatella Versace, Jourdan Dunn, Rita Ora and Irina Shayk, who previously dated Cristiano Ronaldo.
Hamilton posted a number of photos on Instagram of his night at the Fashion Awards.
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Is Lewis Hamilton’s decision to skip the inaugural FIA Hall of Fame induction ceremony in favor of the Fashion Awards really that big of a deal, or is it being blow out of proportion? The four-time Formula One champion is set to be back racing competitively on Sunday, March 25th, 2018 when the new Formula One season begins with the Australian Grand Prix.