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I have to admit, I prefer my sporting icons to be complex, interesting human beings rather than ‘identikit’ robots who seem to be talking and behaving to an inane script churned out by the sport’s PR bods.

One of Lewis Hamilton’s most miraculous achievements was - as a working-class black kid - just to break into karting and show off his enormous talent, despite the casual racism and institutional discrimination he and his father experienced. For those of us who don’t live through that on a day-to-day basis, I’m not sure we can even start to understand the impact... Let alone break through it to be become the greatest driver in a sport that has had no black role models.

Before this year, Hamilton hasn’t been silent on issues of race in motorsport, but he had assumed that his presence in Formula One would start to break down barriers and inspire black youngsters to “dream the impossible”. His dignity and determination have probably trumped the awful fan behaviour at Barcelona early in his F1 career - and such scenes have thankfully not been repeated, as least not in such a public manner. Yet young black kids - whether aspiring drivers, mechanics, team principals, marshals etc - still see a very white (and male) sport at all levels.

The catalyst of George Floyd’s death saw Hamilton reassess his assumption that just being in F1 would gradually change things. His Hamilton Commission - working with teams and the F1 administration to break down barriers - will certainly have more long-term impact than the grid ceremonies and t-shirts... but it’s all part of a very well-thought-out, passionate and determined effort. And those are just some of the personal qualities that make Lewis Hamilton a magnificent champion on and off the track.