Lewis Hamilton stands out in a bright blue suit as he receives the Honorary Citizen of Brazil award

Lewis Hamilton couldn’t hold back his smile as he flew with joy after receiving the Honorary Citizen of Brazil award in Brasilia on Monday.

The Formula 1 driver cut a neat figure in a bright blue blazer which he wore over a coordinated crew neck top.

The seven-time world champion held out his yellow and green medal for the crowd as he posed for snaps.

Lewis was in high spirits as he blasted through the air with joy and later held up his prize.

The sports star was congratulated by chamber chairman Arthur Lira who shook hands with the stars.

It comes after Lewis, who has more than 30 million Instagram followers and nearly 8 million Twitter followers, said everyone should get off “toxic” social media.

The Mercedes driver spoke out after finishing second to Max Verstappen after last month’s Mexican Grand Prix, a race that is dripping with varying levels of bitterness before and after.

Verstappen complained about persecution on social media after ‘a certain’ Sky Sports presenter – presumably pit lane reporter Ted Kravitz – questioned the validity of the Dutchman’s world title last season.

Kravitz’s to-camera claims that Hamilton had been ‘robbed’ of the championship prompted Verstappen and Red Bull to withdraw all cooperation with Sky in Mexico City.

Hamilton, meanwhile, was involved in a separate feud with his former McLaren teammate, bitter rival and two-time world champion Fernando Alonso.

The Spaniard claimed in an interview that Hamilton’s championships were less hard-earned than Verstappen’s as the Briton only had to fight for them, not for other teams.

That prompted Hamilton to post a photo on Twitter of him standing on the top step of the podium at the 2007 US Grand Prix, looking down at Alonso, one step below.

The photo attracted 291,000 likes and 13,000 comments.

Still, Hamilton said: “Social media is getting more and more toxic over the years and I think we all need to get rid of it eventually.

“Mental health is such a prominent thing right now. So many people read the comments and the things people say, and it’s hurtful.

“Luckily I don’t read the stuff, but the media platforms need to do more to protect people, especially young children and women, but at the moment they don’t, so I think this will continue.”

Hamilton, who employs staff to service his social media, including London agency Freuds, posted on Instagram after the race, suggesting he’s not quite ready to cut ties with the platforms. He has used them before to settle fights.