Hamilton, Sports Personality of the Year

Lewis Hamilton proved just how much his popularity has soared when he defied the odds on Sunday to be crowned BBC’s Sports Personality ...

Lewis Hamilton proved just how much his popularity has soared when he defied the odds on Sunday to be crowned BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year. The 29-year-old, 2014 Formula One champion had missed the prize twice, coming in second instead; and it looked like it would be another near miss with Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy being a firm favourite after winning two golf majors this year.

“I want to say a huge thank you to all the people that called in,” Hamilton said after accepting the unexpected award. “I couldn’t have done it without my amazing team. I want to thank my family. My dad worked four jobs at one stage just to get me go-karting. I never thought in a million years I would be up here standing with the greats.”