Lewis Hamilton is undoubtedly the Sports Personality of the Year. When they hand out their sports awards, Hamilton will leap out of his turbo charged F1 car, somersault out of a BBC studio and then take the plaudits.

Most of us in Britain have been dramatically starved of genuine sports heroes but baby-faced Lewis has broken the mould. In the thinnest field for some years, Hamilton has all the characteristics needed for this much coveted yearly trophy.

He’s young, focused and almost outrageously self motivated. He reminds you of an excitable kid at a birthday party. By Sunday evening he seems destined to rip open his presents. Without any doubt he will be crowned F1 World motor racing champion.

'Lewis Hamilton has single-handedly dominated his sport in a way that no other Brit has been able to do'


For those who associate motor racing with Matchbox cars and the BBC’s inimitable Murray Walker, this is a special moment. Now the sight of 20 to 30 racing cars roaring around an international road a million times would be enough to send most of us to the drugs cabinet.

But this writer will break open the bubbly, dance from the rooftops and even hug the milkman. You see Lewis Hamilton has single-handedly dominated his sport in a way that no other Brit has been able to do.

Hamilton follows in a long line of motor racing’s most illustrious predecessors. Back in the 1960s Graham Hill captivated the British public with his dashing, debonair looks. When Hill fluttered the famous bristly moustache, a thousand female hearts swooned.

In the 1970s the ever-so-posh and well educated James Hunt had much the same effect on young ladies sensibilities. Nothing would give Hunt more pleasure than to be surrounded by the latest glamour queens. Film premieres or wild parties were Hunt’s hilarious hobby.

In the 1980s and the 1990s both Nigel Mansell and Damon Hill did much to give British motor racing a mighty injection of hope. Mansell was the dull, boring Brummie with about as much personality as an oily rag. Or so the critics said.

Damon Hill was the blue eyed son of 1960s heart throb Graham and lived up to the reputation. Damon, though was not the night club hell-raiser nor did he drink by the gallon. Instead he climbed into bed with a cup of Horlicks, read a couple of Auto Sport magazines and then became world F1 champion.

But some of us believe that Lewis Hamilton is the best thing to happen to British sport since Sir Geoff Hurst’s hat-trick in the 1966 World Cup Final. From a very young age it would seem Hamilton knew exactly what he wanted to do.

Hamilton, you see is fanatical about motor racing, refreshingly confident and almost absurdly single-minded. He is a well balanced individual who spends every second studying all aspects of a fiercely competitive sport.

When, as seems inevitable, Hamilton wins his first ever Formula One championship, some of us will toast the victory. Hamilton will, of course spray his champagne, thank his parents, cats and budgies and then pocket his fortune. Three cheers Lewis.