Double Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton, who won 11 grands prix for Mercedes in 2014, was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year against the odds late Sunday.
The award is widely regarded as Britain’s most prestigious cross-sports accolade.
“I am so speechless,” said the 29-year-old after a British public vote that overturned the betting form, with bookmakers having golfer Rory McIlroy as their clear favourite.
“I really was not expecting it. Dude, you had such an amazing year,” he told McIlroy at the ceremony in Glasgow.
“Never in a million years did I think I would be up here standing with the greats,” added Hamilton, who had walked the pre-event red carpet with his bulldog Roscoe.
McIlroy, who won two majors in 2014 and helped Europe retain the Ryder Cup, was a forlorn-looking runner-up with European 10,000 metres champion Jo Pavey third.
Bookmakers William Hill had listed the Northern Irishman at 2/5 last week with Hamilton, who was runner-up for the award in 2007 and again when he won his first title with McLaren in 2008, the 7/4 second favourite.
Hamilton is the fifth racing driver to win the award in 61 years, with champions Damon Hill and Nigel Mansell winning it twice after Stirling Moss and Jackie Stewart before them.
Chris Hoy, the Olympic cycling champion, received the Lifetime Achievement award and Cristiano Ronaldo scooped the Overseas Sports Personality of the Year title, while McIlroy’s Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley was named Coach of the Year.
McGinley’s team missed out on the Team of the Year prize, which went to the England women’s rugby union side after they won the World Cup.
Gymnast Claudia Fragapane collected the Young Sports Personality of the Year prize at the Hydro – the venue where the 17-year-old won four Commonwealth Games gold medals for England in the summer.
The Helen Rollason Award, for outstanding achievement in the face of adversity, went to the competitors of the Invictus Games, all injured servicemen and women.
And the Get Inspired Unsung Hero award went to 77-year-old Jill Stidever, who has coached disabled swimmers – including three Paralympians – for more than half a century.