For proving how powerful eating vegan can be – and encouraging people around the world to save the planet by ditching meat, eggs, and other animal-derived foods – newly crowned five-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton has yet another title to add to his list of stellar accomplishments: PETA’s 2018 Person of the Year.

PETA founder Ingrid Newkirk, a lifelong F1 fan, recognised Lewis’ commitment to animals:

Lewis Hamilton has proved to be not only a fantastic driver but also a force for good and a powerful ally of animals used for food. PETA is honouring him for inspiring his legions of fans to follow his lead, jump-start their own energy levels, and spare animals’ lives by going vegan.

Lewis, who often speaks about his vegan diet to the international media, has been open about his motivation for making the switch:

[T]he pollution [from greenhouse-gas emissions] coming from the amount of cows that are being produced is incredible. They say it is more than what we produce with our flights and our cars, which is kind of crazy to think. The cruelty is horrible and I don’t necessarily want to support that and I want to live a healthier life.

The F1 champion also regularly shares animal rights messages and photos of protein-packed vegan meals with his 8.7 million followers on Instagram, where his official bio reads, “[Plant] Based Diet. Love Animals.”

His social media posts are also packed with pleas for compassionate eating, such as “Please find it in your heart to not support this horrific cruelty and go plant-based!”

What You Can Do
Inspired by Lewis? Try vegan for 30 days. We’ll send you plenty of information about delicious vegan products you can buy and easy recipes to make at home. We’ll be on hand to answer your questions, too.