Verstappen received the award following his 2021 F1 title conquer former Laureus award winner Lewis Hamilton, who collectively received the 2020 version of the awards with footballing nice Lionel Messi.
The Dutchman beat American soccer icon Tom Brady, Bayern Munich and Poland striker Robert Lewandowski, marathon operating legend Eliud Kipchoge, swimmer Caeleb Dressel – who received 5 gold medals on the Tokyo Olympics – and 20-time tennis Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic.
The opposite winners of the Sportsman of the 12 months award in Components 1 embrace Michael Schumacher, who received it twice in 2002 and 2004, and Sebastian Vettel in 2014.
“A giant thanks to everybody voting for me from the Laureus Academy,” Verstappen mentioned in his acceptance speech.
“A really particular yr, a really hectic yr as a result of the stress was all the time on. I couldn’t do that with out the workforce behind me, the folks again on the manufacturing unit. It was an unbelievable effort that we received the championship.
“I wish to give a particular point out additionally to my dad [Jos Verstappen]. With out him, I wouldn’t be standing right here at the moment and I recognize each second we share collectively on this success story and hopefully many extra to come back.
Race winner and 2021 F1 World Drivers Champion Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing celebrates along with his father Jos Verstappen
Picture by: Getty Pictures / Pink Bull Content material Pool
“I used to be very completely satisfied, in fact, but it surely was quite a lot of arduous work and years of preparation. I’m extremely proud. Since I used to be slightly child I used to be dreaming of being on the highest step and profitable the championship.
“Afterwards, I mentioned to my dad ‘We did it, that is what we labored for all these years and now we’re right here, the 2 of us, all of the reminiscences, all of the years of travelling throughout Europe, going for that one objective and we achieved it.'”
Six-time MotoGP title winner Marc Marquez was nominated for World Comeback of the 12 months, following his return to racing from a prolonged arm harm final yr, however was crushed by skateboarder Sky Brown, who suffered a cranium fracture and a damaged left wrist and arm in coaching however recovered to win a bronze medal within the Tokyo Olympics.
Mercedes’ F1 workforce was additionally crushed to Group of the 12 months by the Italian males’s nationwide soccer workforce, which beat England to Euro 2020 glory at Wembley – however has subsequently did not qualify for this yr’s World Cup in Qatar.
Valentino Rossi additionally received the Laureus Sporting Icon award following his retirement from motorcycle racing on the finish of 2021, ending a profession that resulted in seven MotoGP titles.
“I’ve already taken two prizes from the Laureus Academy, so I’ve to thank all people for this,” Rossi mentioned in his speech upon accepting the award.
“That is nice. I used to be fortunate as a result of I had quite a lot of nice achievements in my profession. The victories for certain are necessary, however I feel a very powerful factor is that lots of people know MotoGP and began to comply with motor biking due to me.
“That is the game that I like and I’m very happy with this.”
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