Poll: Is Lewis Hamilton Britain's best ever racing driver?

Hamilton, who claimed his second Formula One world title in Abu Dhabi at the weekend is one of 10 finalists in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award. The winner of the award will be announced at the culmination of the live show on December 14 at the Hydro Arena in Glasgow, following a public vote. Hamilton finished second in the voting in both 2007 and 2008.

Hamilton now joins a highly-exclusive club as he is just the 16th driver in the 65-season history of F1 to have won at least two titles.

He also becomes only the fourth Briton to achieve the feat, joining the greats in Jim Clark, Graham Hill and Sir Jackie Stewart.

Without doubt, Hamilton's place in the history of F1 is secure and, as he only turns 30 in January, there is still plenty of time for him yet to join Stewart in winning a third championship.

Six years ago in Brazil, Hamilton won his maiden crown by the skin of his teeth, claiming the fifth position he needed with a move at the final corner on the last lap of the season-ending grand prix.

On this occasion the 29-year-old achieved the feat in the right way, with the victory and with thousands of Britons in the grandstand opposite the podium waving Union Jacks and chanting his name.

It was the kind of acclaim Hamilton missed out in Brazil, especially as virtually everyone at Interlagos that day was rooting for Felipe Massa, the home hero who won the race that day but was ultimately beaten in the championship.

Six years on, and in trying to express his feelings, Hamilton said: "I can't really explain how much this means. It means even more than the first one. It feels like it's the first time.

"This is the greatest day of my life, the greatest moment of my life.

"It feels very surreal, like an out-of-body experience, like I'm back here (indicating behind him) watching this going on, that it's not really happening."