Third place went to British athlete and mother Jo Pavey, who became the oldest-ever European athletics champion in winning the 10,000m title in Zurich at the age of 40 years and 325 days.

Hamilton was presented with the trophy by former Scotland and Liverpool footballer Kenny Dalglish and former England rugby union player Jonny Wilkinson in front of a 12,000-strong audience.

"I am so speechless," said Hamilton, who was runner up to boxer Joe Calzaghe in 2007 and to cyclist Sir Chris Hoy - who received the Lifetime Achievement Award tonight - a year later.

"I'm so proud and honoured to be among such great sporting talent, I want to say a huge thank you to all the people who called in, I really wasn't expecting it."

Turning back to the forlorn but stoical figure of McIlroy, who had been 2/5 favourite to win, Hamilton - who was at 6/4 - said with a smile: "Dude, you had such an amazing year."

The Northern Irish golfer's Open victory made him the first European to win three different majors in the modern era.

Despite winning the Open and US PGA titles and contributing to a Ryder Cup victory, golfer Rory McIlory, the bookies' favourite, was beaten to the chequered flag in the race for the 2014 BBC Sports Personality of the Year by F1 champion Lewis Hamilton ©Getty Images

"I could not have done this without my amazing team, my family, my dad who once had four jobs to help me, my brother, I've been incredibly inspired by them," added Hamilton, who had caused a stir on the red carpet by arriving with his bulldog Roscoe.

"I never thought in a million years I'd be surrounded by such people.

"Thank you to all the fans, I always say we win and lose together because I feel your love, I feel so proud to carry the Union flag and hope I will continue to make you proud."

There was another shock for the golfing fraternity as the Team of the Year award went not to the Ryder Cup victors but England's women's Rugby Union World Cup winners.

But Coach of the Year award went to Europe's Ryder Cup captain, Paul McGinley.

Hamilton thus became the fifth racing driver to win the award in its 61-year history, with Damon Hill in 1994 and 1996 and Nigel Mansell in 1986 and 1992 triumphing on two occasions and Stirling Moss in 1961 and Sir Jackie Stewart 1973 claiming the prize once.

The 29-year-old Mercedes driver won 11 races this season to become the fourth Briton to win the drivers' championship at least twice.

Hamilton's title triumph came after a season-long struggle with team-mate Nico Rosberg in the dominant Mercedes cars, and despite having a large lead he had to keep his nerve in the final race in Abu Dhabi, where the new system of having double points could have seen him lose his grip on the top position.

But the Englishman took the lead at the start and controlled the race as Rosberg suffered car trouble and finished 14th.

The team also wrapped up the constructors' championship after a record-breaking season.

Deserving as Hamilton's achievements were, there was widespread surprise at the fact that he took the trophy ahead of McIlroy.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, former England cricketer Graeme Swann commented: "I'm disappointed for Rory McIlroy. I'm more of a golf fan than F1.

What Rory is doing is way and beyond what everyone else is doing, but don't get me wrong - Lewis Hamilton is unbelievable."

Sir Chris Hoy, six times an Olympic champion, was a predictably popular choice, meanwhile, in the city where the Velodrome constructed ahead of this year's Commonwealth Games is named after him.

Chris Hoy, six times Olympic cycling champion, was a predictably popular winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award on home ground ©Getty Images

"I became a dad eight weeks ago," Sir Chris announced, to more cheers.

"He was in hospital for eight weeks and finally came out last week and we got him home."

The venue, which hosted netball, boxing and gymnastics during the Commonwealth Games this summer, was chosen in the year that Scotland hosted the Commonwealth Games and golf's Ryder Cup at Gleneagles.

On an evening when the bookies might have taken bets on whether presenter Gary Lineker's croaky voice would hold out to the close of business, the Overseas Sports Personality of the Year award went to Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo.

Claudia Fragapane, the 17-year-old gymnast who became the first British woman in 84 years to win four golds at one Commonwealth Games, took the Young Sports Personality of the Year award.

The Helen Rollason Award was presented by Prince Harry to the Invictus Games competitors, while Sport's Unsung Hero was Jill Stidever, who has spent nearly 60 years teaching special needs children to swim.

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