Verstappen misses out on second Laureus honour

Max Verstappen has missed out on being crowned Laureus World Sportsman of the Year despite a record-breaking 2023 season with Red Bull.

Verstappen won 19 of 22 grands prix last season en route to securing a third F1 drivers’ championship but that was not enough to secure him the prestigious Laureus honour for a second time.

The 26-year-old was crowned in 2022 on the back of his stunning maiden F1 title success after an epic season-long duel with Lewis Hamilton that went down to the wire in contentious fashion in the final race in Abu Dhabi.

On this occasion, Verstappen has had to take a bow to tennis star Novak Djokovic following his triumphs in securing three of the four grand slams – the Australian, French and US Opens – to take his tally to 24. It is Djokovic’s fifth Laureus award.

Also nominated were football stars Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland, pole vault world record holder Armand Duplantis, and sprint sensation Noah Lyles.