Bernie Ecclestone has hinted that Lewis Hamilton doesn't deserve his knighthood.
The Mercedes driver received the honour earlier this week, just days after he was denied a record eighth F1 world title at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The 36-year-old joined Sir Jack Brabham, Sir Stirling Moss and Sir Jackie Stewart as the fourth motorsport star to be knighted.
Hamilton however, is the first to be awarded a knighthood while still an active competitor.
However, former F1 chief Ecclestone believes many who are awarded the prestigious nowadays don’t do enough to earn it.
“Only people who have really done something for the country should be knighted," the 91-year-old told German broadcaster n-tv.
“I don't think many people who are knighted now really deserve it.
“They all make a lot of money and donate some to charity but they haven't done anything specific for the country.”
Ecclestone also claimed Hamilton can’t complain about the manner in which he lost the title and criticised the reaction of Mercedes chief Toto Wolff following the controversial outcome of Sunday’s season finale.
He added: “Other team members were probably angry too. But he (Wolff) was the only one to show it.
“If Mercedes don't win the championship retrospectively, he should at least get an Oscar for acting.”
Ecclestone was asked for his view on Sunday’s controversial incident on Sky News, and did not appear to have much sympathy for Hamilton and the manner in which the Brit lost when it was suggested he had been hard done by.
"About being robbed it's complete and utter nonsense," he said.
"If you want to think about it carefully, on the first lap of that race he (Hamilton) went off the circuit and came back on again and Verstappen stayed on the circuit and did absolutely nothing wrong.
"Lewis wasn't punished at all for this so he shouldn't be complaining too much.
"These things happen all the time in sports. We shouldn't blame the race director, he did exactly what was the right thing to do."
