Lewis Hamilton wins BBC Sports Personality award after F1 title
Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton added another accolade to his 2014 season by winning the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award on Sunday
Hamilton, who been runner-up in the BBC vote after both his astonishing F1 debut in 2007 and his first title in '08, became the first motorsport winner of the award since Damon Hill's 1996 triumph.
He came out ahead of golf's world number one Rory McIlroy in the public vote.
"I am so speechless," said Hamilton, whose BBC accolade follows his triumph in both the International Racing Driver and British Competition Driver of the Year categories at last weekend's AUTOSPORT Awards.
"Firstly I really want to say a huge congratulations to all the champions, I'm so proud and honoured to be amongst such great British sporting talent.
"I want to say a huge thank you to all the people who called in. I really wasn't expecting it - [McIlroy] was having such an amazing year.
"Tonight has been a huge reminder of how many great sportsmen we have here. I never thought I'd be standing up here. It's just a dream.
"Thank you to all the fans. I always feel we win and lose together because I feel your love when you come to all the races.
"I'm proud to carry the Union Jack and I hope I can continue to make you proud."
Although no racing driver had won the outright Sports Personality crown for 18 years, four-time F1 champion Sebastian Vettel took the Overseas award in 2013, and Jenson Button - the '09 Sports Personality runner-up - was Newcomer of the Year at the end of his F1 rookie season in 2000.
Hamilton's constructors' title winning Mercedes squad was shortlisted for the 2014 Team of the Year award, but lost out to the England team that won rugby's women's world cup.
But there was more success for a recent motorsport convert as Sir Chris Hoy was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his legendary cycling career.
Hoy raced in British GT this season and is moving up to prototypes next year with an LMP3 campaign in the 2015 European Le Mans Series.
Previous article
Caterham F1 racer Will Stevens set for AUTOSPORT International 2015
Next article
Steve Nielsen joins Williams F1 team after leaving Toro Rosso
About this article
| Series | Formula 1 |
| Drivers | Lewis Hamilton |
Starting Grid for the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix
F1 Fast Facts: Emilia Romagna Grand Prix
The back-bedroom world-beater that began a new F1 era
The first in a line of world beaters was designed in a back bedroom and then constructed in a shed. STUART CODLING recalls the Tyrrell 001
The clues Hamilton’s F1 contract afterthought gives to his future
The Formula 1 world reacted with surprise when it learned Lewis Hamilton’s long-awaited new Mercedes deal guarantees his presence on the grid only until the end of 2021. Both parties claimed publicly they were happy with the arrangement but, asks MARK GALLAGHER, is there more to it than that?
How a harshly ejected Red Bull star has been hooked by racing again
Driver-turned-DJ Jaime Alguersuari lost his love for motorsport when he was booted out of Formula 1 just as he was starting to polish his rough edges. Having drifted from category to category then turned his back on racing altogether in 2015, he’s come full circle and is planning a return in karts for fun
Why Mercedes isn't confident it's really ahead of Red Bull at Imola
While Mercedes struck back against Red Bull by topping the times at Imola on Friday ahead of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, the overall picture remains incredibly close. Despite having a possible edge this weekend, the reigning Formula 1 world champion squad is not taking anything for granted...
What Mercedes must do to keep its F1 title challenge on track
Mercedes may find itself leading the drivers' and constructors' standings after Lewis Hamilton's victory in the Bahrain Grand Prix, but it is well-aware that it came against the odds, with Red Bull clearly ahead on pace. Here's what the Brackley team must do to avoid its crown slipping
Why Tsunoda can become Japan’s greatest F1 talent
While Japan's fever for motor racing is well-documented, the country has yet to produce a Formula 1 superstar – but that could be about to change, says BEN EDWARDS
Why the demise of F1's hypocritical spending habit is cause for celebration
For too long, F1's richest teams have justified being able to spend as much as they want because that's the way they've always conducted their business. STUART CODLING says that's no reason not to kick a bad habit
The double whammy that is defining Vettel’s F1 fate
It's been a tough start to Sebastian Vettel's Aston Martin F1 career, with a lack of pre-season testing mileage followed by an incident-packed Bahrain GP. But two key underlying factors mean a turnaround is not guaranteed
