- 08 Dec 08, 09:25#84226
Ayrton Senna: WDC 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991
McLaren: WCC 1974, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1998, 1999, 2007
McLaren: WDC 1974, 1976, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1998, 1999, 2008
Int. Racing Driver: Lewis Hamilton
By Jamie O'Leary Sunday, December 7th 2008, 23:04 GMT
Lewis Hamilton has been named International Racing Driver of the Year at the Autosport Awards in London.
Hamilton said he was proud of the journey he's made in his career to win the Award for the second time, and this time as Formula One world champion.
The 23-year-old Briton scooped a hat-trick of awards last season and returned to the event this year as the youngest ever F1 world champion after beating Ferrari's Felipe Massa by just a point at the end of a fascinating season of racing.
He was presented with the award by another McLaren legend, 1998 and 1999 world champion Mika Hakkinen and when asked how it felt to be standing on the stage as world champion, rather than as runner-up 12 months ago, Hamilton said: "It's kind of overwhelming.
"To receive an award, any award, is always a major privilege, and holding this one, it reminds me of all the times I've been to the Autosport Awards before, even my first time.
"To see what a journey it's been and see the number of people that have made it possible for me, makes me very proud."
Hamilton's rise to prominence has been the stuff of dreams. After meeting McLaren boss Ron Dennis at the Autosport Awards a decade ago and cheekily telling him "I'd like to race for you one day," he became the youngest driver in history to sign a management deal with an F1 team, and had his career guided by McLaren as he won titles in Formula Renault, F3 and GP2.
In 2007, he put in the best performance by a rookie in the world championship, finishing on the podium on his Grand Prix debut in Australia, and led the standings for most of the season, eventually losing out to Kimi Raikkonen after technical problems struck in Brazil.
After notching up three Autosport Awards - including International Racing Driver - he began the 2008 season even more determined to win the sport's biggest prize.
Five wins brought him to the season finale in Brazil knowing that just a fifth place would be enough to crown him champion. In the end, he had to overtake Timo Glock's Toyota at the final corner of the final lap to achieve his goal, but he did it, to become McLaren's first drivers' champion for 10 years.
Racing Car of the Year: McLaren MP4-23
By Steven English Sunday, December 7th 2008, 22:58 GMT
McLaren's MP4-23 has been voted Racing Car of the Year at this year's Autosport Awards.
The team won the drivers' title this year with Lewis Hamilton and, although they were pipped to the constructor's crown by Ferrari, the car was voted best of the season - following the MP4-22's victory in the same award last year.
"One of my engineers said something rather nice to me after we won," said McLaren's engineering director Paddy Lowe after being presented with the award by Tom Kristensen.
"He said the nice thing about winning championship at final corner is that everyone can feel that they played a part.
"These days F1 is such a team effort, literally hundreds of people, and for them to all feel that they played a part is fantastic."
Rookie of the Year: Sebastian Vettel
By Steven English Sunday, December 7th 2008, 22:46 GMT
Sebastian Vettel was voted Rookie of the Year by autosport.com readers at tonight's Autosport Awards in London.
The 21-year-old became the youngest ever driver to take a pole position at Monza in September and then became the youngest winner with a faultless drive in the race the following day - all in his first full season of Formula One.
He finished eighth overall in the championship for Scuderia Toro Rosso - outshining his teammate, multiple Champ Car champion Sebastien Bourdais, as well as both drivers in the sister Red Bull Racing team.
Vettel, who follows Lewis Hamilton as Autosport's Rookie of the Year, will move on to the senior Red Bull team next season.[/i]
By Jamie O'Leary Sunday, December 7th 2008, 23:04 GMT
Lewis Hamilton has been named International Racing Driver of the Year at the Autosport Awards in London.
Hamilton said he was proud of the journey he's made in his career to win the Award for the second time, and this time as Formula One world champion.
The 23-year-old Briton scooped a hat-trick of awards last season and returned to the event this year as the youngest ever F1 world champion after beating Ferrari's Felipe Massa by just a point at the end of a fascinating season of racing.
He was presented with the award by another McLaren legend, 1998 and 1999 world champion Mika Hakkinen and when asked how it felt to be standing on the stage as world champion, rather than as runner-up 12 months ago, Hamilton said: "It's kind of overwhelming.
"To receive an award, any award, is always a major privilege, and holding this one, it reminds me of all the times I've been to the Autosport Awards before, even my first time.
"To see what a journey it's been and see the number of people that have made it possible for me, makes me very proud."
Hamilton's rise to prominence has been the stuff of dreams. After meeting McLaren boss Ron Dennis at the Autosport Awards a decade ago and cheekily telling him "I'd like to race for you one day," he became the youngest driver in history to sign a management deal with an F1 team, and had his career guided by McLaren as he won titles in Formula Renault, F3 and GP2.
In 2007, he put in the best performance by a rookie in the world championship, finishing on the podium on his Grand Prix debut in Australia, and led the standings for most of the season, eventually losing out to Kimi Raikkonen after technical problems struck in Brazil.
After notching up three Autosport Awards - including International Racing Driver - he began the 2008 season even more determined to win the sport's biggest prize.
Five wins brought him to the season finale in Brazil knowing that just a fifth place would be enough to crown him champion. In the end, he had to overtake Timo Glock's Toyota at the final corner of the final lap to achieve his goal, but he did it, to become McLaren's first drivers' champion for 10 years.
Racing Car of the Year: McLaren MP4-23
By Steven English Sunday, December 7th 2008, 22:58 GMT
McLaren's MP4-23 has been voted Racing Car of the Year at this year's Autosport Awards.
The team won the drivers' title this year with Lewis Hamilton and, although they were pipped to the constructor's crown by Ferrari, the car was voted best of the season - following the MP4-22's victory in the same award last year.
"One of my engineers said something rather nice to me after we won," said McLaren's engineering director Paddy Lowe after being presented with the award by Tom Kristensen.
"He said the nice thing about winning championship at final corner is that everyone can feel that they played a part.
"These days F1 is such a team effort, literally hundreds of people, and for them to all feel that they played a part is fantastic."
Rookie of the Year: Sebastian Vettel
By Steven English Sunday, December 7th 2008, 22:46 GMT
Sebastian Vettel was voted Rookie of the Year by autosport.com readers at tonight's Autosport Awards in London.
The 21-year-old became the youngest ever driver to take a pole position at Monza in September and then became the youngest winner with a faultless drive in the race the following day - all in his first full season of Formula One.
He finished eighth overall in the championship for Scuderia Toro Rosso - outshining his teammate, multiple Champ Car champion Sebastien Bourdais, as well as both drivers in the sister Red Bull Racing team.
Vettel, who follows Lewis Hamilton as Autosport's Rookie of the Year, will move on to the senior Red Bull team next season.[/i]
Ayrton Senna: WDC 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991
McLaren: WCC 1974, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1998, 1999, 2007
McLaren: WDC 1974, 1976, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1998, 1999, 2008