Verstappen and Red Bull nominated for Laureus Awards

For the second year running, reigning F1 World Champion Max Verstappen has been nominated for the prestigious Sportsman of the Year Laureus award, while Red Bull is listed among the team nominees.

Verstappen won the plaudit last year following his dramatic title-winning season in F1 in 2021.

But the Dutchman's massive wave of success in 2022, during which he won a record 15 Grands Prix on his way to his second world crown, made him a predictable nominee in the Laureus World Sports Awards individual category.

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However, Verstappen is up against some very strong opposition with soccer legends Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi, tennis superstar Rafael Nadal, Swedish pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis and NBA Golden State Warriors Stephen Curry also vying for the top Laureus honour.

While Verstappen's achievements last year were remarkable, Formula 1 remains a team sport, which has led to championship winning outfit Oracle Red Bull Racing being nominated in the Laureus World Team of the Year category.

The bulls will line up on the grid alongside Argentina's World Cup winning men's football team, Real Madrid Men’s Football Team, France's Men's Rugby Team, the England Women’s Football Team and the Golden State Warriors.

In past years, Formula 1's honour at the Laureus Awards was successfully upheld individually by Michael Schumacher (2004), Sebastian Vettel (2014) and Lewis Hamilton (2020), but also collectively by the Renault F1 Team (2006), Brawn GP (2010) and the Mercedes Formula One Team (2018).

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.