After a stellar season, Max Verstappen has picked up one other accolade as he was named NOS’ Sportsman of the Yr.
With a record-breaking 15 wins and one other World Championship to position in his very giant trophy cupboard, the 2022 season was arguably Verstappen’s most interesting in Formulation 1 to date.
He overcame early reliability points to wrestle again a lead from Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and whereas the title was not formally confirmed till the Japanese Grand Prix, the writing was on the wall for much longer than that.
As he enjoys some well-earned downtime following the hectic season, Verstappen has additionally been amassing loads of awards for his achievements together with the official trophy for his title win in addition to the Worldwide Racing Driver of the Yr Award on the Autosport Awards.
On Wednesday, he added one other accolade to his identify when he was named Sportsman of the Yr in his native Netherlands.
NOS, who’re of the general public broadcasters within the Netherlands and present the races, named Verstappen the winner after a title win they described as received with “nice drive majeure”.
Verstappen was not current to gather the award so his sister Victoria stuffed in for him, amassing the trophy from former Dutch pace skater Ireen Wüst.
It’s the third-time Verstappen has received the award having additionally carried out so in 2021 and 2016. Solely Judoka Anton Geesink, former skater Ard Schenk and ex-turner Epke Zonderland have been awarded the prize extra.
Following the award, a brief video was proven of former F1 World Champions and among the present crop congratulating Verstappen on his win.
“Simply need to congratulate you in your great success over these previous couple of years,” Sir Jackie Stewart mentioned whereas Damon Hill joked that though Verstappen believes he’s a Lewis Hamilton fan, the 1996 World Champion mentioned the Dutchman had “pushed superbly this 12 months”.
One other former World Champion in Emerson Fittipaldi congratulated Verstappen and mentioned to win a second time was a lot sweeter, a topic he is aware of lots about having been profitable in 1971 and 1974.
Ex-Pink Bull man Mark Webber mentioned he had not seen an entry into Formulation 1 like Verstappen’s “for a very long time” and praised him for the final couple of years which he described as “phenomenal”.
Nico Hülkenberg additionally demonstrated a formidable data of Dutch to congratulate Verstappen.
Verstappen’s trophy got here alongside the awarding of Sportswoman of the Yr which went to Dutch pace skater Irene Schouten who received three golds and one bronze medal on the Olympic Video games in Beijing.
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