Top athletes from around the world gather in LA to celebrate the 2023 Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Awards. A grand night in sports, the ESPYS honor and celebrate the men and women who have dominated the field in their respective arenas. And right now, there is only one man associated with that word in F1: Max Verstappen.
This is Verstappen’s second year in a row, as the Red Bull star bags two nominations after a terrific 2022 season. Individuals and teams alike vie for the 22 honors bestowed over the glamorous night.
Bringing home the 𝐆𝐎𝐋𝐃 🏆 #BritishGP 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/nPMnCWI2Og
— Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) July 10, 2023
Last year, Verstappen was nominated in two categories: Best Championship Performance for his victory at the 2021 Abu Dhabi GP, and the Best Driver award. While he lost in both these categories, Verstappen stands a chance yet again.
Max Verstappen 2023 ESPY Nominations
This year, Verstappen once again stands to be celebrated with two prestigious awards for his 2022 season. First, a shot at redemption for the Best Driver Award. Verstappen stands against NASCAR legend Kyle Larson, IndyCar champ Josef Newgarden and drag racer Brittany Force.
11 wins in a row for the team, what an amazing achievement @redbullracing 🚀 This is an extraordinary job by everyone 👏 #KeepPushing
Thank you Silverstone 🇬🇧 #BritishGP pic.twitter.com/JvY7dR54ij
— Max Verstappen (@Max33Verstappen) July 9, 2023
Verstappen also stands to win a trophy for the Best Record-Breaking Performance. The 2022 Mexican GP handed Verstappen the record for the most Grand Prix wins in a season with 15 conquests in the bag. This meant that the Dutch Lion won all but 7 races in the 22-race calendar.
For a man who doesn’t believe in breaking records, Verstappen sure has some giants to compete with. The Red Bull golden boy competes with LeBron James’ NBA scoring record, Novak Djokovic’s 23rd Grand Slam title and Mikaela Shriffin’s 87th World Cup win.
Another year of losses for Verstappen?
The 2021 season set the cornerstone for Verstappen’s reign over the sport. However, he failed to take home any trophies from the 2022 ESPYs.
The first-time champion lost out on the Best Driver Award to Kyle Larson. A well-earned award for Larson who delivered an incredible performance in a fairytale first season with Hendrik Motorsports.
While his victory in Abu Dhabi was nothing short of dramatic and monumental, the Red Bull champ out on the Best Championship Performance Award to Cooper Kupp. The LA Rams wide receiver closed out his record-breaking season with a triple crown- an honor held by only three other players in NFL history.
Thus, Verstappen stands on the cusp of greatness yet again. While the star has excused himself from the glitz and glamor of the night, there might be a trophy with his name on it.
