At the Laureus World Sports Awards, Max Verstappen was named Sportsman of the Year, while McLaren was nominated for Team of the Year.
Verstappen has already been crowned in 2022, taking the honour as a two-time F1 world champion. However, the Red Bull driver faces some serious competition this year, with tennis player Carlos Alcaraz and two-time Olympic gold medallist pole vaulter Armand Duplantis also among the nominees.
This isn’t the only F1 connection with Laureus, as last year’s success for Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri meant McLaren won the F1 Constructors’ Championship for the first time since 1998. That success also brought a nomination, but the opposition is not weak, as the Spanish national football team, Real Madrid footballers, NBA team Boston Celtics and men’s basketball team Team USA are all fighting for the title.
McLaren will have a much tougher task to claim victory, as the last time a Formula 1 team received the distinction was in 2018, after four consecutive constructors’ championships. I don’t think I need to introduce them to you. On April 21, 2025, we will find out if Norris and company can follow in Mercedes’ footsteps.
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