Lewis Hamilton wins Hawthorn Trophy for 11th time

Lewis Hamilton has won the Hawthorn Memorial Trophy for the 11th time in 15 years, as the highest-placed Commonwealth driver in the F1 standings.

Hamilton extended his record of winning the award more times than anyone else, handed out at the recent Motorsport UK Night of Champions.

The award originated in 1959 to honour the memory of Mike Hawthorn, Britain’s first Formula 1 World Champion and a winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, who died in a road accident just three months after winning the F1 title.

Nigel Mansell is behind Hamilton on the list having won the Hawthorn Memorial Trophy seven times, with other multiple winners including the likes of Jack Brabham, Jenson Button, David Coulthard, Damon Hill, and James Hunt.

And finally, to @LewisHamilton, the Hawthorn Memorial Trophy as the highest-placed Commonwealth driver in last season’s @F1 World Championship 👏#OurMotorsportUK #NightofChampions pic.twitter.com/NtXXmZYJvb

— Motorsport UK (@ourmotorsportuk) January 22, 2022

Hamilton finished second in the World Championship after an Abu Dhabi Grand Prix that has been shrouded in controversy ever since, after Max Verstappen’s last-lap overtake on the seven-time champion.

The Mercedes driver beat the other current Commonwealth drivers on the grid to the award though, with Daniel Ricciardo, Lance Stroll, Lando Norris, George Russell and Nicholas Latifi also eligible to win the trophy.

The Night of Champions took place at the Royal Automobile Club in London, with the annual ceremony celebrating the British winners of motorsport series across several different disciplines, with prominent figures having been in attendance at the awards, including Sir Jackie Stewart – himself a four-time winner of the Hawthorn Memorial Trophy.

Stewart was handed a Lifetime Achievement award by Motorsport UK for his storied career in motorsport, and heralded motorsport PR legend Ann Bradshaw, who has spent 50 years in the industry and became one of the first female press officers in Formula 1 when she joined Williams in 1985.

FIA medical rescue co-ordinator Dr Ian Roberts also honoured with the HRH Prince Michael of Kent Award of Merit for his ambassadorial role representing the UK on the global stage in the Formula 1 Medical Car.

Drivers and prominent figures from other series were also honoured, with Williams development driver and two-time W Series champion Jamie Chadwick given the Gallagher Team UK Driver of the Year award for sporting excellence and contribution to the sport.