15/12/2008
NEWS STORY
Having finished runner-up in the 2007 Formula One World Championship, Lewis Hamilton went one better this year, thereby becoming the youngest champion in the history of the sport.
However, the English youngster was unable to repeat the feat in the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year, where, having finished second to boxer Joe Calzaghe in 2007, last night finished runner-up to Olympic champion cyclist Chris Hoy.
The award is handed to the sportsman with the most votes from the general public, with Hoy seemingly having inspired the whole of (his native) Scotland to back him. However, Hamilton, who finished ahead of another Olympic gold medal winner, Rebecca Adlington, didn't seem too disappointed.
Earlier in the day, Hamilton gave Hoy a run in the McLaren Mercedes SLR at Wembley after their 'man versus machine' challenge was cancelled due to the slippery conditions.