Britain’s Lewis Hamilton was on Friday handed the Formula One world championship trophy for the fourth time at a gala ceremony in the sumptuous palace of France’s former monarchy.
With F1 chairman Chase Carey looking on, newly re-elected International Automobile Federation (FIA) president Jean Todt handed the 32-year-old Mercedes driver the silverware he won in Mexico with two races to spare.
“This has been an amazing year,” Hamilton told the audience in the palace’s 18th-century opera. “I hope that next year’s an even better year for all of you. I know for me that I’m going to try to do better.”
Hamilton this year won 9-20 races and set an all-time record of 72 career pole positions.
Asked earlier for his highlight of the season, Hamilton singled out his home British Grand Prix at Silverstone, because of the support he received after the “negativity” surrounding his failure to take part in an earlier London event.
He also told reporters that while he did not like going to award ceremonies or being on stage, he enjoyed watching others succeed.
Mercedes won both championships for the fourth year in a row, but team boss Toto Wolff said this year had been particularly difficult.
“We keep it now,” he said after being handed the constructors’ trophy by Carey.
Red Bull’s Dutch driver Max Verstappen beat a field that included Hamilton and his Australian teammate Daniel Ricciardo to the Personality of the Year award for the third successive year.
“I always try to be honest and straightforward, so I guess that gave me the personality again this year,” the winner of two races this year said. “It was a hard season, but I learned a lot from it.”
Monaco’s Formula Two winner and next year’s Sauber F1 driver Charles Leclerc won the Rookie of the Year award, while Finnish rally driver Esapekka Lappi won the Action of the Year award for a jump in the Rally of Portugal.
British teenager Billy Monger, who in April had his lower legs amputated after an horrific smash in a Formula Four race at Donington Park, was presented with an FIA president’s Special Award.
Monger, who has already returned to driving, walked onto the stage on prosthetic legs to a resounding ovation.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
Playing soccer and competing for trophies is the best way that many transplanted Hong Kongers and Macanese have found to stay in touch, and to interact with Taiwanese society, said officials at the Taiwan-Hong Kong-Macau Football Friendship Cup, which was held on April 13. Twelve clubs, mostly of players and coaches originally from Hong Kong and Macau, took part in the tournament in New Taipei City. The event is sponsored by the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) and the Taiwan-Hong Kong Economic and Cultural Co-operation Council. Participating teams were from the wider Taipei area, Hsinchu, Taichung, Kaohsiung and other areas. They divided into two