BBC

Sports Personality organisers must be slightly concerned whether Lewis Hamilton (right) will turn up for the programme after the fourtime Formula One world champion recorded a message rather than accept the main Autosport award in person this week. Also conspicuously absent from the Grosvenor House ceremony stage was longtime host Steve Rider, who was replaced by a double act of David Coulthard and Lee McKenzie. Hamilton’s only personal appearance at SPOTY, along with dog Roscoe, was at Glasgow in 2014 when he won.