The 2022 World Champion was named the “International Racing Driver of the Year” by motorsports fans, making Max Verstappen the main winner at Sunday night’s Autosport Awards, know all the 2022 winners
Verstappen wins the “International Racing Driver of the Year”.
Verstappen created history this past season, breaking a new mark for the most grand Prix victories in a single campaign with 15, and easily winning his second World Championship ahead of Charles Leclerc. Although it appeared to be a strong season on paper, the Dutchman had to work hard for it because he had to make up 46 points after retiring from the first two races.
Autosport Awards 2022 F1 Winners List
Due to RB18’s speed, he had been able to accomplish those three races later. Verstappen had been in the lead during the Spanish Grand Prix and had maintained that position until the final checkered flag in Abu Dhabi.
Autosport recognised his talent on Sunday night when it named him the ‘International Racing Driver of the Year’ ahead of Leclerc, IndyCar champion Will Power, and Formula E champion Stoffel Vandoorne. He won the championship by 146 points over Leclerc. For the sixth time, his RB18 took home the title of “International Racing Car of the Year.”
As he leaves, Sebastian Vettel accepts the Gregor Grant Award.
Sebastian Vettel, who recently retired, was also honoured at the Grosvenor House on Sunday by being named the recipient of the “Gregor Grant” award. The four-time Drivers’ Champion is recognised for his lifelong accomplishments in motorsport as well as his advocacy outside of the racetrack.
At the conclusion of the 2022 season, Vettel announced the retirement of his Formula 1 career, leaving behind 4 World Championships, 53 Grand Prix victories, 122 podium finishes, and 3501 laps led.
Mercedes team wins more accolades.
George Russell and Lewis Hamilton both got honours from Autosport, despite the fact that 2022 was not the season Mercedes had hoped for due to the W13 shifting from one track to another and impeding the team’s progress.
Russell received the “Moment of the Year” award, which is given to a notable motorsports event. It was his first Formula One victory, the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. Verstappen’s record-breaking season, Ross Chastain’s wall-riding incident in the NASCAR Martinsville race, and Nyck de Vries’ F1 points on his debut were all defeated by Russell.
Hamilton, on the other hand, was named the “British Competition Driver of the Year.” IndyCar podium finisher Christian Lundgaard, World Endurance Champion Ryo Hirakawa, and F2 race winner Logan Sargeant were beaten out for the title of “Rookie of the Year” by Zhou Guanyu.