Verstappen and Mercedes nominated for Laureus Sports Awards

2021 world champions Max Verstappen and Mercedes have been nominated for the prestigious Laureus Sports Awards, the organization announced Wednesday. Verstappen is nominated in the category World Sportsman of the Year, Mercedes in the category World Team of the Year.

Verstappen nominated for second time

This is not the first time that Verstappen has a chance to win one of the prestigious sports awards. In 2016, the Dutchman was already nominated for Breakthrough of the Year, but the award eventually went to golfer Jordan Spieth. In the World Sportsman of the Year category, Tom Brady, Novak Djokovic, Caeleb Dressel, Eliud Kipchoge and Robert Lewandowski have also been nominated.

For Mercedes, the nomination is almost no news by now. The team has been nominated for the eighth consecutive time this year. In 2018, Lewis Hamilton's team was also allowed to take home the award. This year, the Argentine men's soccer team, the Barcelona women's soccer team, the Chinese Olympic diving team, the Italian men's soccer team and the Milwaukee Bucks are the other nominees.

Verstappen could become fourth F1 driver with award

The Laureus World Sports Awards have been presented since 1999. Three Formula One drivers managed to be chosen as World Sportsman of the Year so far. Michael Schumacher won the award in 2002 and 2004, Sebastian Vettel in 2014 and Hamilton in 2020. In the World Team of the Year category, Renault (2006) and Brawn GP (2010) previously won the award. The Laureus Sports Awards will be presented in the spring.