F1’s youngest World Champion Lewis Hamilton was named International Racing Driver of the Year at the Autosport magazine awards in London last night.
The young McLaren driver told an audience of F1 and motorsport glitterati of the pride he feels about his journey to the top – a tale that includes a first meeting with Ron Dennis at the same awards event a decade ago.
The precocious Hamilton declared ‘I’d like to race for you one day’, and shortly afterward a management contract was signed with McLaren that has steered his career ever since.
Looking on was former Autosport IRDY award winner Jenson Button who –in the wake of Honda’s shock withdrawal from F1 – might be forgiven for regarding Hamilton’s carefully chaperoned route to the World Championship with a jaded eye.
Button was International Racing Driver of the Year in 2004, but faces an uncertain future along with the rest of the Honda F1 team.
Speaking at the Awards Button declared himself hopeful that a buyer could be found for the team. ‘The team are working their arses off to produce a great car for 2009 and with the team and the attitude we have, I can't believe there's not anyone interested in buying the team and helping us out,’ he said.
Brawn has confirmed his commitment to seeing through any potential sale – and at least three suitors are reportedly waiting in the wings – but won’t necessarily stick around after that.
‘Whether I stay here long term is another matter. It depends on the level of the team, the new owners, whether I want to work with them. That is still open. The important thing is I am definitely committed to seeing the team through this phase to come out the other side.
‘I don't have any great interest in scratching around the back of the grid so if unfortunately the team cannot find owners who have the ability or aspirations to compete, then I will see it through and we will go from there,’ he told an Autosport reporter.
Meanwhile Lewis Hamilton has also been shortlisted for this year’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.
Former motor racing winners have included Damon Hill and Nigel Mansell (twice each), Jackie Stewart, Stirling Moss and John Surtees. David Coulthard and Jenson Button have both been shortlisted previously but never won.
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