Lewis favourite to win BBC gong, but does he deserve it?

Lewis Hamilton was favourite to win last year’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year, despite throwing away the world title in his first season in F1. In the end Lewis lost out to Joe Calzaghe, a boxer from Wales who is yet to taste defeat. So, two agonising second places in one year for Lewis - although losing out on the drivers’ title was, we imagine, slightly more galling than losing out to Calzaghe (and at least he didn’t lose out to Zara Phillips).

This time around, with the world title tucked into his racing overalls, Lewis is an even stronger favourite to win the Beeb’s annual award. But there is even stiffer competition in 2008, in the form of several gold medal-winning Olympians from Beijing (Chris Hoy and Rebecca Adlington offer the biggest threat), not to mention tennis star Andy Murray, who has had a fine year (see the full short-list here).

Does Lewis deserve to win the award? Does he have more personality than a daffy blonde swimmer or a dour Scottish tennis player? What constitutes personality anyway? So many questions, which you can answer by leaving a witty comment. If you can’t be arsed to leave a comment, you can just vote…

Hamilton’s Olympic verdict

Lewis Hamilton has been taking time out from preparations for the European Grand Prix to answer questions on the Beijing Olympics. It seems that Lewis’ nifty use of gear paddles on his McLaren does not extend to paddles of the aquatic variety. Apparently the world championship leader’s racetrack pace does not help him on the river.

“When I watch rowing I always find the stamina they have incredible,” he told ITV-F1.com. ”I’ve been rowing recently and I completely suck at it! The balance that you need and the core stability and everything.”

Aside from belittling his rowing ability, Hamilton also singled out Olympians who hold down a day job as well as competing in their sport.

What F1 stars will get up to during summer break

After Hungary last weekend, the F1 circus has taken a well-deserved break for three weeks, before it all resumes with the European GP at Valencia’s new street circuit on 24 August.

So what will the star drivers get up to on their hols? Grid Crasher will tell you, after the jump…