Hamilton handed 11th Hawthorn Memorial Trophy

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All was not lost for Lewis Hamilton last month in Abu Dhabi, with the Briton picking up his 11th Hawthorn Memorial Trophy in fifteen years thanks to his runner up spot in the 2021 F1 World Championship.

It's but a meagre consolation for Hamilton who was beaten to the 2021 title by Max Verstappen at the controversial race at Yas Marina, but the award, named after Britain's first world champion Mike Hawthrorn and which honours the best-placed British or Commonwealth driver in F1's championship, remains a prestigious accolade.

Read also: Villeneuve suggests Hamilton 'distancing himself' from Wolff

While Hamilton has now collected the trophy fifteen times since 2007, it is the Mercedes driver's eighth consecutive trophy.

Hamilton was not present to receive the award during Motorsport UK’s ‘Night of Champions’ at the Royal Automobile Club in London as the seven-time world champion remains locked in silence since his defeat last month in Abu Dhabi.

Last year's group of Commonwealth F1 drivers included, in addition to Hamilton, his fellow Brits Lando Norris and George Russell, Australia's Daniel Ricciardo and Canada's Lance Stroll and Nicholas Latifi.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.