via Reuters
Formula One F1 – Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – December 12, 2021 Red Bull’s Max Verstappen celebrates winning the race and the world championship with the Netherlands flag on the podium REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed
via Reuters
Formula One F1 – Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – December 12, 2021 Red Bull’s Max Verstappen celebrates winning the race and the world championship with the Netherlands flag on the podium REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed
One more feather got added to the cap of F1 Champion Max Verstappen. Just after claiming a thumping victory at Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Verstappen shot to fame by unlocking a new achievement. The Dutchman has won the 2022 Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award.
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The Laureus World Sports Awards is an annual award ceremony given to honor individuals and teams for their sporting achievements throughout the year. With the award, Max put himself into the elite category of F1 drivers who received this award. The other drivers were Lewis Hamilton (2020), Sebastian Vettel (2014), Michael Schumacher (2002, 2004)
Verstappen beat the likes of Eliud Kipchoge, a Kenyan long distant runner, Tennis star Novak Djokovic, NFL star Tom Brady, and Soccer star Robert Lewandowski. The Red Bull driver saw stiff competition from Eliud who’s the 2020 Tokyo Marathon winner. Then there was Novak Djokovic, the 20 times Grand Slam winner as well as Tom Brady, the seven-time Super Bowl champion. Last but not least, Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski, who just won the latest Bundesliga with the German club.
📣 The 2022 Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award winner is….@Max33Verstappen!#Laureus22 | @GullitR 🎙 pic.twitter.com/OqAwxfShKx
— Laureus (@LaureusSport) April 24, 2022
Why is Max Verstappen the chosen one?
Max Verstappen turned the table in 2021 as he picked up his maiden F1 Championship. Not only did the Red Bull driver beat reigning champion Lewis Hamilton but also had to see off double competition from a resilient Valtteri Bottas.
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Really honored to be crowned World Sportsman of the Year by @laureussport
Off course I have to thank @redbullracing, as I couldn’t have managed this without their incredible support
A special thank you goes out to my dad @MaVic009 I’ll never forget everything he did #Laureus22 pic.twitter.com/KhVZVPj2DA
— Max Verstappen (@Max33Verstappen) April 24, 2022
Verstappen helped Red Bull bring back the dominance that the Austrian team has been lacking since the Sebastian Vettel era. Moreover, the Dutchman has proven himself as he was the best driver on this grid last year, with most wins, pole positions, and podiums than anybody else.
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Moreover, the 24-year-old also has been the Dutch Sportsman of the year in 2021. As Max is out to defend his F1 title, he’s already in flying form as he has jumped from P6 to P2 in a single weekend. Can he defend his title this season? Can he be the Laureus Sportsman of the year again? It’ll be interesting to see.
