After receiving offer of Brazilian citizenship, Lewis Hamilton says Neymar ‘invites me every year’

Lewis Hamilton said he was ‘honoured’ to receive the offer of an honorary citizenship in Brazil. The seven-time Formula 1 champion further added that he wants to spend more time in the South American country where he has won three Grand Prix. 

Congressman Andre Figueiredo had proposed a bill in the lower house after Hamilton’s win in Brazil last year. It is yet to be voted on. 

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However, Brazil’s presidential hopeful Ciro Gomes backed the Mercedes driver on social media. 

 “Hamilton, you already live in our hearts. With the honorary citizenship, you will be even closer to us,” he wrote. 

Responding to Gomes, the 37-year-old said that he would be honoured. 

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“I want to spend more time here in Brazil. It is such a beautiful culture. I’ve only been to Rio and Sao Paulo, but I want to come back for Christmas, New Year or something,” Hamilton said. 

After winning in Sao Paulo last year, Lewis Hamilton unfurled the Brazilian flag as fans chanted his and Ayton Senna’s names. 

Senna is Hamilton’s idol. “But more than anything it was the way he faced alone a system that wasn’t always kind to him,” he had said. 

The Brazilian racer won three  world titles before he died in 1994. 

“[Brazil soccer international] Neymar invites me every year, and [pro surfer] Gabriel [Medina] invites me every year, but I never had the chance. I’m waiting for my Brazilian passport,” the Mercedes racer said. 

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Lewis Hamilton had first won the Brzilian GP in 2008. He and football forward Neymar have been friends for years. 

The seven-time champion’s Mercedes has been struggling this season. He has secured one podium finish in three races. The 37-year-old is fifth on the drivers’ standings with 28 points.