2016 Formula 1 world champion Nico Rosberg has won the ‘Breakthrough of the Year’ prize at the Laureus Awards in Monaco.
The German driver beat his Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton to the F1 world title last year, after missing out in both 2014 and 2015.
He went up against Olympians Almaz Ayana and Wayde van Niekerk, Iceland’s football team, Fiji’s Rugby Sevens squad and 2015/2016 Premier League champions Leicester City for the award on Tuesday night.
He was presented with his ‘Breakthrough of the Year’ award by double F1 world champion Emerson Fittipaldi.
Previous winners of the prize include current F1 drivers Hamilton (2008) and Daniel Ricciardo (2015).
Just days after claiming the 2016 F1 title, Rosberg announced his retirement from the sport.
Mercedes was nominated for 'Team of the Year' after winning 19 of the 21 races en route to the constructors’ title.
The Brackley-based outfit missed out on the award to the Baseball World Series champions Chicago Cubs.
