Max declared Laureus World Sportsman of the Year

Published on 24 April 2022 by Niels Hendrix

Max Verstappen is chosen Laureus World Sportsman of the Year. The Dutch Oracle Red Bull Racing driver was after winning the Formula 1 world championship of 2021 one of the six nominated athletes for the title Sportman of the Year 2021.

“A big thank you for everyone for voting for me from the Laureus Academy. 2021 was a very special year for me and of course, also a very hectic year, because the pressure was always on. But that’s of course what we like and it keeps it exciting", says Max.

"I couldn’t have achieved this Formula 1 world championship without my Red Bull Racing team behind me, all the people back at the factory and at the track. It was an incredible effort from everyone that we won the championship. I want to give a special mention also to my dad, because without him I wouldn’t be standing here. To this day I appreciate every moment we can share together in this success story. Hopefully there is many more to come. Thank you!”

Every year Laureus awards one of the most prestigious international sporting prizes. After being nominated in 2016 in the category  ‘Breakthrough of the Year’, entered Max for the fist time for the biggest prize. The Formula 1 world champion was already declared Dutch Sportsman of the Year at the end of 2021, and now he is chosen Sportsman of the Year worldwide by the Laureus World Sports Awards.

Max was in stiff competition in his category with the American Olympic swimming champion Caeleb Dressel, the Kenyan marathon runner Eliud Kipchoge, the Serbian twenty fold Grand Slam-winner Novak Djokovic, the Polish Bundesliga-topscorer Robert Lewandowski and the Amerian seventime Super Bowl-winner Tom Brady.

The winner was chosen by the 71 delegates of the Laureus World Sports Academy and will be announced tonight in a virtual ceremony.