Newly crowned Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton, who won 11 Grands Prix for Mercedes in 2014, was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year against the odds. The award is widely regarded as Britain's most prestigious cross-sports accolade.

The champion celebrated his big win by taking his friends and family on a snowboarding trip.

Posting a picture of him and his brother Nicolas mid-action shot on the slopes, he added in an Instagram caption, 'My brother Nicolas Hamilton and I hitting the slopes last week! Great fun!

The Hamilton brothers were wrapped up in colourful skiwear with their goggles pushed up on top of their heads for the photo opportunity.

The star's girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger unfortunately had to miss out on the fun because she is currently starring in Andrew Lloyd Webber's revival of musical Cats.

The former Pussycat Doll Scherzinger has been receiving rave reviews for her performance in Cats at London's Palladium Theatre.

Last year, Hamilton had caused an online stir after posting photos of him skiing with his brother just days after Michael Schumacher's shocking accident in the Alps.

Hamilton enraged Instagram users by posting his Christmas snaps of himself on the snow.

According to the Daily Star, he also uploaded a video of him on a snowmobile and his brother on a ski chair tearing down the slopes. However, the photo posts by the 28-year-old were met with a number of abuses.