INTERESTING....

Lewis Hamilton took pole position yesterday at Madame Tussauds, as the London waxworks museum unveiled a model of the Formula One world champion. "He has undoubtedly won a place in the nation's hearts for his determination and single mindedness and a place at Madame Tussauds for an amazing track record," said a spokesperson for the London attraction.

Although not being an afficionado of the ear-splitting, carbon-emitting, environmentally-hostile circus that is motor racing, I am nevertheless informed that Hamilton, the first black Formula 1 driver, became the youngest ever world champion last year in only his second season, beating one Felipe Massa to the crown on the last corner of the last race.

His waxwork shows him in full racing kit and holding a replica of his race helmet. It took around six months to create and apparently cost £150,000. Now here`s the puzzle. If the real Lewis Hamilton was placed alongside his waxworks double, which of the two would be the most interesting?

Never mind, for Hamilton, who faced criticism for his decision to move to the tax haven of Switzerland in 2007, was awarded an MBE earlier this month and is thus qualified "to have won a place in the nation`s hearts." Allegedly.