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.”
image: irishmirror.ie, independent.co.uk
