F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Verstappen pockets third Driver of the Day Award

X (Twitter)X (Twitter)
FacebookFacebook
WhatsappWhatsapp

Red Bull rising star Max Verstappen has won his third Formula One Driver of the Day Award after securing a strong second-place finish at the Austrian Grand Prix.

The Dutchman made a difficult one-stop strategy work in Spielberg, as he completed a mammoth 56-lap second stint on the soft tyre in his team’s home event.

Lining up eighth on the grid, Verstappen enjoyed a solid getaway and made quick work of his team-mate Daniel Ricciardo before moving past Force India's Nico Hulkenberg and McLaren-Honda’s Jenson Button.

The 18-year-old then leapfrogged Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen in the pits before Sebastian Vettel’s tyre failure promoted him to third. Verstappen then drove a steady race to resit a late charge from Raikkonen and ended up gaining one position on the final lap following a collision between the two Mercedes ahead of him.

Verstappen’s first Driver of the Day accolade came after the teenager became the youngest F1 race winner by taking victory in Spain in early May. He then picked up a second award at the Canadian Grand Prix, where he defended superbly from Nico Rosberg in the final laps.

The Red Bull ace is the first racer to pocket three ‘Driver of the Day’ trophies. Other awardees are Haas’ Romain Grosjean in Australia and Bahrain, Daniil Kvyat, then racing for Red Bull, in China, Renault’s Kevin Magnussen in Russia, and Force India’s Sergio Perez in Monaco and Baku.

The Driver of the Day award has been introduced this season, as F1 bosses seek to try and increase fan engagement.

Austrian Grand Prix - F1i Driver ratings

REPORT: Hamilton snatches dramatic victory on final lap from Rosberg

Breakfast with ... Alexander Rossi

F1i Classic: Penske's emotional Austrian GP win

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Julien Billiotte

Recent Posts

New era, new gear: Hamilton’s Ferrari wheel has fans buzzing

Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari debut might just be the most talked-about thing in Formula 1 since…

1 hour ago

F1's Domenicali to meet Thai officials over potential Bangkok GP

Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has revealed that he will be flying to Bangkok after…

2 hours ago

Australian GP: Piastri edges Russell and Verstappen in final practice

Under a blazing Melbourne sun, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri set the pace in Saturday’s third and…

3 hours ago

Australian Grand Prix Free Practice 3 - Results

Full results from Free Practice 3 for the Australian Grand Prix at Melbourne's Albert Park,…

3 hours ago

Hamilton’s pole ambition in Melbourne: ‘Never say never’

Lewis Hamilton suggests it’s a long shot given his still imperfect knowledge of Ferrari’s SF-25,…

14 hours ago

Australian GP: Friday's action in pictures

The action kicked off in earnest at Albert Park on Friday, launching the 2025 Formula…

16 hours ago