Formula One news

Button favourite for BBC SPOTY award

New World Champion Jenson Button is the bookie's favourite to win the prestigious BBC Sports Personality of the Year award for 2009. The ceremony, which will congratulate several British sportspeople for their achievements over the course of the last twelve months, will be taking place in Sheffield on Sunday 13 December.

With the annual event dating back to 1954 and always attended by a selection of legends from the sporting world as well as celebrities, cyclist Chris Hoy currently holds the crown although Brawn driver Button is favourite to be the new winner after clinching the F1 title in his tenth season.

Some of the names to be shortlisted up against Button - whose own odds for the win of 8/13 make him current favourite - are boxer Amir Kahn, cricketer Andrew 'Freddy' Flintoff, boxing's Amir Kahn, cyclist Mark Cavendish and tennis star Andy Murray.

However, joining Button in what looks to be the favourite pair of contenders for the time being is boxing's David Haye, whose sensational win against Russian Nikolay Valuev made him heavyweight Champion of the world at the weekend. The last F1 driver to receive a SPOTY gong was Lewis Hamilton, who took the silver medal following his impressive debut F1 season in 2007.


More information on this year's BBC SPOTY contenders can be found here


Past motorsport winners of BBC Sports Personality of the Year:

1996: Damon Hill
1994: Damon Hill
1992: Nigel Mansell
1986: Nigel Mansell
1973: Jackie Stewart
1961: Sterling Moss
1959: John Surtees

more news

• 21 Nov.
  • López close to USF1 deal
  • Options open for Bourdais
• 20 Nov.
  • FIA was using new teams, says Lola
  • Rossi and Newey to contest endurance race
  • Wolff: Worth of privateers on the up
  • Equity sale for 'private motives' - Williams
  • USF1 considering 12 drivers
  • Photos: SKUSA karting event, Las Vegas
  • Buemi and Schumacher to kart in Las Vegas
  • Clock ticking for Silverstone
  • Williams sells first shares
  • Official: Bianchi handed Ferrari test
  • My door is open, says Trulli
  • Button: I needed a new challenge
• 19 Nov.
  • Brawn 'very disappointed' with Button outcome
  • Sons release birthday song for Jackie Stewart
  • Räikkönen: No talks with Brawn
  • No early Brawn exit for Button
  • 'Unfinished business' for Räikkönen
  • 2010: How the grid is shaping up
• 18 Nov.
  • Button move a mistake, says Stewart
  • Donington goes into administration
  • Villeneuve working on F1 comeback
  • Whitmarsh: Money not the reason for Button move
  • Hamilton: Button arrival fantastic news
  • Button: Difficult decision to leave Brawn
  • Confirmed: Button partners Hamilton at McLaren
  • Kubica to compete in second rally
  • Webber drives GP3 car in France
  • 'Bianchi to test Ferrari at Jerez'
  • Prize-winning Wilson drives McLaren
  • Brawn: Button-McLaren talk not helpful
  • Sabbatical year for Räikkönen in 2010
  • Drivers preparing for Toyota Motor Sport Festival
• 17 Nov.
  • Di Montezemolo to quit as FOTA Chairman?
  • 'Brawn and Button just sparring' - Ecclestone
  • 'Button agrees terms with McLaren'
  • We want Button for sensible amount, says Fry
  • Manor: Glock deal confirms progress
  • Glock confirmed at Manor for 2010

Homepage