This has turned into an interesting debate with some helpful comments coming from krt917. It's good that he is prepared to come on here and join in the discussion in a logical and well-argued way, so thanks.
Can I just clear up one point. I think Lewis Hamilton voluntarily ruled himself out of consideration in the year when he would have been eligible on the the basis that he was a McLaren supported driver and to put himself up for an award with which McLaren is associated would have been wrong.
Either that or he deliberately did the last BF3 round of the season at Brands Hatch, which had the same effect.