Formula One legend Bernie Ecclestone once turned down a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II, revealing his controversial reasons for rejecting the prestigious honour.
The Honour Declined
As the 2026 New Year's Honours List was published this week, a past decision from the motorsport magnate has resurfaced. Bernie Ecclestone, the 95-year-old former chief executive of the Formula One Group, was offered a knighthood in the 1990s but chose to decline it. He has since explained his reasoning in candid interviews, most recently earlier this year.
Ecclestone, who began his career as a driver before becoming a team manager and the sport's commercial rights holder, is a towering figure in F1 history. Despite his immense influence, he believed his achievements did not warrant the title of 'Sir'.
"I Did It For Myself": Ecclestone's Candid Reasoning
In a frank discussion with The Telegraph, Ecclestone stated his actions were primarily self-motivated. "Whatever I did, I did for myself," he said. "If somebody benefited from that, good. But it was never my intention."
He went further, associating the honours system with Britain's colonial history in a remark likely to cause discomfort. "I thought these awards should only be for people who had captured a country, gone back to the Queen and given her the keys," Ecclestone explained. "'There you go, we've captured India.'"
This was not the first time he expressed this view. In 2017, he argued that knighthoods should be reserved for those who serve their country directly. "If England benefited from it, then good, I didn't go out particularly to do that," he said. "I think the whole system is wrong. I think if somebody actually dedicates themselves to do something for the country and is proud to do it, they should be recognised for that."
Knighthoods in Formula One
Despite Ecclestone's refusal, the honour has been accepted by several other luminaries from the world of Formula One. The knighted drivers are:
- Sir Lewis Hamilton (knighted in 2021)
- Sir Jackie Stewart
- Sir Stirling Moss
- Sir Jack Brabham
Furthermore, former McLaren team principal Ron Dennis received a knighthood last year for his contributions to industry and charity.
Hamilton, a seven-time world champion, shared a poignant story about his own knighthood ceremony, revealing that King Charles III remembered meeting him when he was a 13-year-old karting hopeful. The monarch recalled their conversation at the McLaren factory opening decades prior, telling Hamilton he had "come a long way" during the formal investiture at the palace.
Ecclestone's decision and his forthright explanation highlight a unique perspective on national recognition, contrasting sharply with the pride felt by others in the sport he helped build into a global phenomenon.
