Max Verstappen is on the shortlist to be nominated for Sportsman of the Year, the NOS. The final nominations will be announced on 12 December.

Verstappen doesn't care much for award ceremonies

Verstappen was nominated twice before: In 2016, the year he scored his first Formula 1 victory at the Spanish Grand Prix, he was also allowed to receive the award immediately. However, he skipped the Sports Gala because he was enjoying a well-deserved holiday.

He was also nominated in 2019, but even then he expressed little desire for all the fuss around the award ceremony. Should he win the world title in 2021, the Limburger will be a big contender to win the award, but the chance is again small that he will appear at the gala.

Other contenders include motocross champion Jeffrey Herlings, cyclist Mathieu van der Poel and kickboxer Rico Verhoeven.