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Motorsport

Max Verstappen wins Autosport’s Driver of the Year Award

Max Verstappen Autosport Lando Norris Oscar Piastri

Max Verstappen has won Autosport’s 2025 Driver of the Year Award, following a fan vote.

The Red Bull star scored eight wins as he battled McLaren duo Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri for the crown, falling just two points short despite a difficult start to the campaign with the RB21.

Motorsport readers have voted Verstappen the best racing driver of 2025, ahead of world champion Norris, Piastri, IndyCar dominator Alex Palou, Formula E title winner Oliver Rowland and MotoGP star Marc Marquez.

Verstappen’s victory comes on the evening of the star-studded 38th Autosport Awards at London’s Roundhouse on 21 January.

The award, which has been running since 1982, is open to professional racing drivers competing at international level. It is the fifth consecutive time Verstappen has taken the accolade.

Previous winners include F1 world champions Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher, Mika Hakkinen and Sebastian Vettel, while the British drivers on the honours list are Nigel Mansell, Damon Hill, Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton, who holds the record with eight successes.

Other categories decided by fan voting include Rookie of the Year, Moment of the Year presented by Bahrain International Circuit, Competition Car of the Year, Rally Driver of the Year and British Competition Driver of the Year. Two new awards for 2025 are Team of the Year and Creator of the Year.

Further awards, decided by expert judging panels, include the Pioneering and Innovation Award, Promoter of the Year and Brand Partnership of the Year.

To find out who our other award winners are, go to motorsport.com/awards

Photos from 2026 Autosport Awards

Lando Norris, McLaren, Sir Jackie Stewart

2026 Autosport Awards

Lando Norris, McLaren

2026 Autosport Awards

Ross Brawn

2026 Autosport Awards

Sir Jackie Stewart

2026 Autosport Awards

Cisca Wauman, Lando Norris, McLaren, Lando's sister Cisca and brother Oliver

2026 Autosport Awards

Doriane Pin, Susie Wolff, Managing Director of F1 Academy

2026 Autosport Awards

Tom Bellingham, content creator, and Matt Gallagher, content creator, pose with their Creator of the Year award

2026 Autosport Awards

Jonathan Wheatley, Audi F1 Team Principal, Ross Brawn

2026 Autosport Awards

Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing

2026 Autosport Awards

Tom Stanton, CEO of More Than Equal, collects his Pioneering and Innovation Award during the Autosport Awards 2026

2026 Autosport Awards

Jean Todt, Prince Bernhard of Orange-Nassau, van Vollenhoven

2026 Autosport Awards

Ross Brawn

2026 Autosport Awards

David Croft, Formula 1 commentator and presenter

2026 Autosport Awards

Katharina Nowak, president of the F1 Miami Grand Prix

2026 Autosport Awards

Andrea Stella, McLaren

2026 Autosport Awards

Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing

2026 Autosport Awards

Greg James, BBC Radio 1 presenter and host

2026 Autosport Awards

Jonathan Wheatley, Audi F1 Team Principal

2026 Autosport Awards

Ross Brawn

2026 Autosport Awards

Bradley Lord, Mercedes chief communications officer, Doriane Pin

2026 Autosport Awards

Andrea Stella, McLaren

2026 Autosport Awards

Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing

2026 Autosport Awards

Lando Norris, McLaren

2026 Autosport Awards

Sir Jackie Stewart

2026 Autosport Awards

Maya Weug, Doriane Pin, Chloe Chambers

2026 Autosport Awards

Cisca Wauman, Lando Norris, McLaren, Lando's sister Cisca and brother Oliver

2026 Autosport Awards

Ross Brawn

2026 Autosport Awards

Doriane Pin

2026 Autosport Awards

Lando Norris, McLaren

2026 Autosport Awards

Autosport Awards

29

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