LEWIS HAMILTON was handed a boost in his hopes of securing a hat-trick of BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards – with the shortlist reveal delayed until after the Formula One finale.
The British driver is hoping to break Michael Schumacher’s record of seven world championships this weekend.
He goes into the final race of the season level on points with Max Verstappen and knows victory in Abu Dhabi would guarantee the title.
And completing the stunning comeback to pip his rival would also place him among the favourites to win SPOTY in 2021.
According to the Daily Mail, the nominees will be revealed in the week of the live show in Salford on December 19.
That is a shift from the usual unveiling either in the last week of November or the first week of December.
Hamilton, 36, will be looking to retain the SPOTY crown he picked up last year after equalling Schumacher’s record.
He also saw off Rory McIlroy and Jo Pavey in 2014 with 33.8 per cent of the vote.
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Only Andy Murray has won the annual prize more times than the Stevenage star.
Hamilton has four second-place finishes, too, meaning he has a record six podium finishes in total.
Even if Hamilton does secure the F1 title on Sunday, it would still be a major shock if he lands the SPOTY crown.
US Open champion Emma Raducanu is the huge favourite with the bookies after her remarkable run in New York.
Ironically, the tennis sensation actually wants to see her role model Hamilton scoop the gong.
She said: “I met him in person at the Gala and we had a really good conversation there.
“He’s just been really cool and helping me. Like he said, be patient. You have just got to ride the wave.
‘I’m rooting for Lewis. He’s been such a good role model for me in terms of helping me out and through these next stages.”
Raducanu expects to miss the awards ceremony on December 19th as she will be in the Middle East.
OTHER CONTENDERS
Elsewhere, Tokyo 2020 gold-medal winners Tom Daley, Adam Peaty, Jason Kenny and Dame Sarah Storey are expected to be in the list of candidates.
Jockey Rachael Blackmore and 2011 winner Mark Cavendish could also get the nod.
But the BBC could be sued by Tyson Fury if he is shortlisted – despite the WBC heavyweight champ defending his title against Deontay Wilder in emphatic fashion and being the fourth favourite for the award.
The BBC last year declined Fury’s request to be taken out of the running and made public their intention to keep him on the list.
But he has threatened them with legal action if they include him again.
