London, Dec 15 (IANS): Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton has been voted as the BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2014.
The 29-year-old Mercedes driver won his second world title this season by taking 11 races. He won 34 percent of the vote Sunday, followed by Northern Irish golfer Rory McIlroy with 20 percent and athlete Jo Pavey third with 16 percent, reports Xinhua.
"I was sitting there saying Rory's going to have it," said Hamilton.
"I thought it had to be someone else. I want to say a huge thank you to all the people who called in, I really wasn't expecting it," he added.