London, December 15 - Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton has been crowned the BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2014 award as he upstaged golfer Rory McIlroy and athlete Jo Pavey to second and third position respectively.

The Mercedes driver, who won his second Formula One title this season, garnered 209,920 of the 620,932 to claim the top prize as McIlroy and Pavey could only secure 123,745 and 99,913 votes respectively.

An elated Hamilton said that he wasn't expecting for it as he had anticipated McIlroy to claim the top prize. Thanking his supporters, he said that he was honoured to be among such great sporting talent, the BBC reported.

He further said that he could not have done it without his amazing team, his family especially his dad who once had four jobs to help him.

Earlier, Hamilton became the fourth Briton to win the drivers' championship twice. (ANI)