Lewis Hamilton snubbed for SPOTY after losing F1 title battle against Max Verstappen

Verstappen wins 2021 F1 world championship

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Lewis Hamilton has not received a place on the BBC Sports Personality of the Year (SPOTY) shortlist mere hours after his F1 world title heartbreak in Abu Dhabi on Sunday. A dramatic season ended in blockbuster fashion, which saw title rival Max Verstappen clinch the crown on the final lap at Yas Marina. 

In a season which has seen tensions soar between Mercedes and Red Bull, one could not have imagined a more dramatic finale than what played out on Sunday. 

With Hamilton seemingly destined for the chequered flag, a late crash by Nicholas Latifi introduced the safety car which brought Verstappen back into striking distance. 

And when FIA race director Michael Masi controversially ordered the hoard of lapped drivers between Hamilton and Verstappen to clear out of the way, the title protagonists were brought bumper-to-bumper with one lap remaining. 

Having taken the opportunity to fit brand new soft-compound tyres, the Dutchman capitalised on his advantage by passing Hamilton on the final lap to clinch his first world title. 

In a matter of hours, Hamilton saw his eighth championship slip away as well as his prospective place on the SPOTY shortlist. 

With the six contenders announced on Monday, the Brit’s devastating defeat just hours earlier looks to have cost him a shot at the coveted accolade which he has won on two prior occasions. 

Only Andy Murray can better that haul as the only person to have won the award three times. 

Breakout tennis superstar Emma Raducanu is the odds-on favourite to win after her sensational US Open victory earlier this year. 

She is joined by Olympic breaststroke extraordinaire Adam Peaty, diving gold medallist Tom Daley, Euro 2020 finalist Raheem Sterling and Paralympic legend Dame Sarah Storey. 

Also on the list is world heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury, despite his outspoken opposition to the award in recent weeks. 

“It means nothing to me and I don’t need it or want it,” he recently told The Telegraph.

“In fact, they will hear from my solicitors if they do put me on the list. Give it to someone who needs it. I don’t.

“And, anyway, we know who the sports personality of the year is anyway – it’s me.

“I am the sports personality. Who does what I do, goes through a war in Las Vegas, entertains the fans, and then sings to the audience?”

The ‘Gypsy King’ added extra gloss to his incredible personal comeback story in October with a dramatic knockout victory over Deontay Wilder. 

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