Hamilton crowned F1 champion at Royal Palace

With Formula One chairman Chase Carey looking on, newly-re-elected International Automobile Federation (FIA) president Jean Todt handed the 32-year-old Mercedes driver the silverware he won in Mexico with two races to spare. 

“This has been an amazing year,” Hamilton told the audience. “I hope that next year’s an even better year for all of you. I know for me that I’m going to try to do better.”

Hamilton won nine of 20 races in 2017 and set an all-time record of 72 career pole positions as well as scoring points in every grand prix. 

Mercedes won both championships for the fourth year in a row but team boss Toto Wolff said 2017 had been particularly difficult. “We keep it now,” he said after being handed the constructors’ trophy by Carey. 

Red Bull’s 20-year-old Dutch driver Max Verstappen beat a field that included Hamilton and his own Australian team mate Daniel Ricciardo to the ‘Personality of the Year” award for the third successive year. The award is selected by permanently accredited media from all FIA championships. 

“I always try to be honest and straightforward so I guess that gave me the personality again this year,” said the winner of two races in 2017. 2018 Sauber F1 driver Charles Leclerc won the Rookie of the Year award while Finnish rally driver Esapekka Lappi won the ‘Action of the Year’ for a jump in the Rally of Portugal. British teenager Billy Monger, who had his lower legs amputated after a horrific smash in a Formula Four race at Donington Park in April, was presented with an FIA president’s special award.