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    Lewis Hamilton handed boost in SPOTY 2021 race as BBC delay revealing shortlist until AFTER thrilling F1 title race

    LEWIS HAMILTON was handed a boost in his hopes of securing a hat-trick of BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards – with the shortlist reveal delayed until after the Formula One finale. The British driver is hoping to break Michael Schumacher’s record of seven world championships this weekend.
    Lewis Hamilton received a welcome boost in this year’s Sports Personality of the Year vote with the delay in the announcement of the shortlistCredit: Refer to Caption
    The F1 driver was not at the ceremony in 2020 so collected the award remotelyCredit: PA
    He goes into the final race of the season level on points with Max Verstappen and knows victory in Abu Dhabi would guarantee the title.
    And completing the stunning comeback to pip his rival would also place him among the favourites to win SPOTY in 2021.
    According to the Daily Mail, the nominees will be revealed in the week of the live show in Salford on December 19.
    That is a shift from the usual unveiling either in the last week of November or the first week of December.
    Hamilton, 36, will be looking to retain the SPOTY crown he picked up last year after equalling Schumacher’s record.
    He also saw off Rory McIlroy and Jo Pavey in 2014 with 33.8 per cent of the vote.
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    Only Andy Murray has won the annual prize more times than the Stevenage star.
    Hamilton has four second-place finishes, too, meaning he has a record six podium finishes in total.
    Even if Hamilton does secure the F1 title on Sunday, it would still be a major shock if he lands the SPOTY crown.
    US Open champion Emma Raducanu is the huge favourite with the bookies after her remarkable run in New York.
    Ironically, the tennis sensation actually wants to see her role model Hamilton scoop the gong.
    She said: “I met him in person at the Gala and we had a really good conversation there.
    “He’s just been really cool and helping me. Like he said, be patient. You have just got to ride the wave.
    ‘I’m rooting for Lewis. He’s been such a good role model for me in terms of helping me out and through these next stages.”
    Raducanu expects to miss the awards ceremony on December 19th as she will be in the Middle East.
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    Elsewhere, Tokyo 2020 gold-medal winners Tom Daley, Adam Peaty, Jason Kenny and Dame Sarah Storey are expected to be in the list of candidates.
    Jockey Rachael Blackmore and 2011 winner Mark Cavendish could also get the nod.
    But the BBC could be sued by Tyson Fury if he is shortlisted – despite the WBC heavyweight champ defending his title against Deontay Wilder in emphatic fashion and being the fourth favourite for the award.
    The BBC last year declined Fury’s request to be taken out of the running and made public their intention to keep him on the list.
    But he has threatened them with legal action if they include him again.
    Hamilton won his first SPOTY crown in 2014 after his second world titleCredit: PA:Press Association
    He finished second behind Geraint Thomas in 2018 with Harry Kane in thirdCredit: PA:Press Association More

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    Tyson Fury threatens to sue BBC if he is nominated for Sports Personality of the Year after epic Wilder win

    TYSON FURY has threatened legal action against the BBC if he is nominated for Sports Personality of the Year. Fury is fourth favourite for the award and expected to be shortlisted when it is announced next week.
    Tyson Fury at the 2018 SPOTY awardsCredit: PA:Press Association
    But it is the second year in a row that he has requested to be omitted from the competition and is ready to take legal action against the BBC.
    Fury, 33, told The Telegraph: “It means nothing to me and I don’t need it or want it.
    “In fact, they will hear from my solicitors if they do put me on the list. Give it to someone who needs it. I don’t.
    “And, anyway, we know who the sports personality of the year is anyway – it’s me.
    “I am the sports personality. Who does what I do, goes through a war in Las Vegas, entertains the fans, and then sings to the audience?”
    Lewis Hamilton was last year’s SPOTY winner after becoming a seven-time Formula One champion.
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    That was despite Fury’s seventh-round stoppage win over Deontay Wilder, 36, in their rematch.
    But this October the heavyweight rivals put on a thriller in their trilogy bout.
    Fury got up from the floor twice, scored three knockdowns of his own and closed the show in round 11.
    Rising tennis star Emma Raducanu is favourite for this year’s SPOTY with Tom Daley, Adam Peaty and Hamilton also in the running.
    The BBC last year declined Fury’s request to be taken out of the running and made public their intention to keep him on the list.
    Tyson Fury knocked out Deontay Wilder in their trilogy boutCredit: Getty
    His relationship with SPOTY took a hit in 2015, when a petition demanding his removal drew 100,000 signatures after sexist and homophobic remarks.
    Fury still attended the ceremony that year, having stunned Wladimir Klitschko to win the WBA, IBF and WBO titles.
    And in 2018, he was omitted from the list despite his epic draw with Wilder in only his third comeback fight after almost three years out of the ring.
    Fury said: “They wouldn’t give it to me and give me credit if I won 50 world title belts from the people who put it on, and I don’t care.
    “I should have won it three times already. I’ve got my wife and my kids. That’s all the awards I need. I’ll sue [the BBC] if they put me on.” More