Hamilton most popular F1 driver – poll

(GMM) After just a single season in formula one, 2007 championship runner-up Lewis Hamilton is the sport's most popular driver, according to a poll.

The survey of more than 8500 fans across Europe, conducted by Renault's title sponsor ING, revealed that the 22-year-old Briton is even more popular than the newly crowned world champion Kimi Raikkonen, as well as Hamilton's highly successful McLaren teammate this year, Fernando Alonso.

Despite double title winner Alonso's immense popularity within Spain, the 2005 and 2006 champion attracted less than ten per cent of the vote, while nearly one third nominated Hamilton as their favorite.

The ING poll also revealed Ayrton Senna as the most revered driver of all time, ahead of the most statistically successful driver in formula one history, Michael Schumacher.

Alongside the ING acclaim, Hamilton has also been awarded the Autocar Motorsport
Award by the British weekly car magazine.

"I am a regular reader of Autocar, I am very proud to have won this award," he is quoted as saying.