Lewis honoured by Europe’s premier sports newspaper

After missing out on the BBC Sports Personality of the Year, Lewis Hamilton can take comfort in the news that L’Equipe has voted him one of their top five sportsmen of the year.

Hamilton came fifth in the voting, behind sprinter Usain Bolt (who was voted the Champion of Champions), swimmer Michael Phelps, tennis star Rafael Nadal and MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi.

Does this mean the French love Lewis more than us Brits? Shurely shome mishtake.

Lewis honoured by the Germans

Lewis Hamilton received a Special Prize from the jury at the annual Bambi awards (Germany’s equivalent of the Oscars). Lewis was hounoured for his “charisma and his youthful charm which made him the new superstar of Formula 1.”

The world champion was handed his shiny Bambi by Dutch football WAG Sylvie van der Vaart, the not-unpretty wife of Real Madrid midfielder Rafael van der Vaart. And yes, Van der Vaart is a mildly amusing surname.

“I think this is my first award I’m collecting since after the last Grand Prix,” Hamilton said on the red carpet after the event. The first of many this awards season, we don’t doubt.

Crasher bonus! More photos after the jump, plus a video of Britney Spears (yes, pop fans, she’s back) performing at the ceremony: