Lewis Hamilton's shoulder appears with a huge tattoo bearing the words "I am still growing," and in the footsteps of this expression the British champion walked this year, whether on the sporting side, or in the broader picture of other issues in the world.

The Mercedes driver secured winning the Formula 1 World Championship for cars for the seventh time in Turkey before 3 races to end on Sunday, to rise to the ranks of the most successful driver in the history of the sport and he certainly remains in search of more.

"I feel like I'm just getting started," said Hamilton, after boosting his record and winning 94 in an impressive career.

Only German Michael Schumacher, Ferrari legend, has so many titles, while Hamilton has already managed to outperform the German driver in the number of wins and the number of times he starts off from the lead and ascends to the podium.

Nevertheless, the numbers reveal only part of the big story, which is related to the rise of Hamilton's star from a racing driver to a global icon, and from an athlete to a brilliant speaker, to reach new heights around the world.

Ahead of the season, the 35-year-old showed off a new helmet design with the words "We are still climbing" on it.

In 2020, the British driver increasingly used his platform to voice his views on issues related to combating racial injustice, diversity and the environment.

Hamilton said a few days ago, "The important thing about this year's journey is that it coincided with the struggle for equality, and with a real development process this year in learning what is happening around the world."

"I'm starting to realize a little bit more about what is happening around us and I'm starting to see an evolution of that," the brown-skinned British driver added.

Hamilton increasingly used his platform to express his views on issues related to combating racial injustice, diversity and the environment (Reuters)

Racial injustice

The circuit is only part of Hamilton's world, kneeling on his knee before races, wearing a T-shirt with the words "Black lives matter" and campaigning against racial injustice and for greater diversity.

Hamilton established a committee of experts to help represent blacks in the world of motorsport in Britain, and also acquired a team in an electric car championship to highlight global warming.

The only black Formula 1 driver persuaded his Mercedes to repaint his silver cars black and took part in protest demonstrations.

And as he said in a recent interview with Sky Sports, in the context of talking about the influence of the late boxing legend, Muhammad Ali, his goal is "not only to be the greatest ... but to be a goal."

He added, "I want to realize that I am not wasting my time here, just to achieve achievements and win titles ... Of course, winning the World Championship is a wonderful thing, but this is not the most important thing for me."

"One definitely wants to look back and say that I was part of something bigger than myself, my team, and the sport, and I do it even though there is a whole group of people and lots of forces against us," he said.

Asked last week about his upcoming seventh title, Hamilton said he felt more proud of his campaigns.

Mercedes president Toto Wolff said Hamilton was a human development.