Sir Andy Murray has said he's not "necessarily" in favour of athletes being given knighthoods.

However, when asked whether racing driver Lewis Hamilton deserved a knighthood, he said "of course" - referencing his performance both on and off the track. 

Speaking on Good Morning Britain, he said: "I'm not necessarily all for being given knighthoods for what we do.

"But in terms of what he's achieved as an athlete, of course he deserves it as a sportsperson.

"He's one of the most successful sportspeople in the history of the country.

Sir Andy added: "He's an amazing driver, he supports some great causes as well, away from the racing track so he definitely deserves it."

READ MORE: Sir Andy Murray to collect knighthood from Prince of Wales

In 2019 Sir Andy was dubbed a knight by Charles during a Buckingham Palace investiture ceremony for a glittering tennis career that has seen him win three Grand Slams and several other titles.

The player's career-defining moment came in the summer of 2013 when he ended Britain's 77-year wait for a male singles champion at Wimbledon.

The knighthood was announced in the 2016 New Year Honours, capping a momentous 12 months which saw him win a second Wimbledon title, retain his Olympic crown, named BBC Sports Personality of the Year for the third time, and finish the season as world number one.

Now, Lewis Hamilton’s reported knighthood has been welcomed as “long overdue” for Britain’s “biggest sporting star”.

Hamilton won a record-equalling seventh world championship last Sunday and will receive the accolade in the New Year Honours, according to The Sun.

Former Labour cabinet minister Lord Hain, who serves as Chair for the All Party Parliamentary Group for Formula One, has written on two occasions to Prime Minister Boris Johnson calling for Hamilton, 35, to be honoured with a knighthood.

“If it is correct, I will be thrilled to see Lewis joining the pantheon of sporting knights because he is right up there with Sir Bradley Wiggins, Sir Mo Farah, Sir Andy Murray, Sir Alastair Cook and the others,” Hain said on Sunday.

“Lewis is not just a serial champion, he is actually the biggest British sporting star in the world by far. It is long overdue.

“The fact that his background is so humble, and the fact that he is black, just adds to his incredible achievement.

“It is not just what you see in the cockpit of his car, but also his charitable work and improving diversity in Formula One, which could have an impact on other sports.

“He is a role model for young girls and boys whatever their backgrounds, whatever their colour, to be able to reach for the sky.”

In the wake of Hamilton’s seventh title, which moved him level with Michael Schumacher’s all-time championship tally, Johnson was told it would be totally wrong to deny the Briton a knighthood because of his tax status.

Motorsport UK chairman David Richards also sent a letter to Downing Street earlier this month explaining that Hamilton, who lives in Monaco, “is subject to withholding tax at source in nine countries” and “files tax returns in four of the nine countries”.

It is also claimed that HMRC’s UK Income Tax Liabilities Statistics, published in 2019, puts Hamilton among the top 5,000 highest tax payers in the UK.

“It would be totally wrong for the UK to deny Lewis an award befitting his historic achievements because of where he chooses to live or work or because his tax status has been misunderstood,” Richards stated in the letter.

Hain added: “For more than half of the year Lewis’ job takes him around the world. He pays tax in a number of countries, and he also pays a great big lump of British tax, too.

“He has a residence in Britain and is proudly British so it should not be an issue.”

Hamilton was awarded an MBE following his first championship in 2008 and has gone on to rewrite the sport’s record books, winning more races (94) and securing more poles (97) and podiums than any other driver before him.

“When I think about that honour of being knighted, I think about people like my grandad who served in the war,” said Hamilton on the potential accolade.

“Captain Tom waited 100 years for that great honour, and then you have these doctors and nurses, who are saving lives during this hardest time ever.

“I think about those unsung heroes and I don’t look at myself as an unsung hero. I haven’t saved anybody. It is an incredible honour that a small number of people have bestowed on them.”