Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes have received nominations for this year’s Laureus World Sports Awards.
Hamilton, who last year won a seventh Formula 1 world title, has been nominated for World Sportsman of the Year.
Hamilton shared the award in 2020 with Barcelona star Lionel Messi.
With sports betting usually taking off each year with the announcement of the Laureus Awards, this year they are being held via a virtual ceremony which is now only due to take place in May. Fans will have to have to wait for some time before they can bet on actual live events where they can also be in attendance.
With motorsport, football and horse racing all in the same position currently, the betting is on to see which major sport gets across the line first with live spectators. Whether it will be horse racing’s Grand National, Formula 1’s British Grand Prix or Football’s FA Cup, we will just have to wait and see.
Also nominated alongside Hamilton are Rafael Nadal, LeBron James, Robert Lewandowski, Joshua Cheptegei and Armand Duplantis.
“It’s an honour to have been nominated for Laureus World Sportsman of the Year alongside some truly incredible athletes,” said Hamilton.
“When I look back at the award ceremony last year, it’s hard to believe just how much has changed. 2020 was a difficult year for so many people, for many different reasons and of course the world of sport was hugely affected.
“I was fortunate enough to be able to race and I’m so proud of what we, as a team, were able to achieve together.
“I’m even prouder of the journey we began towards making the motorsport industry more diverse and inclusive.
“Nelson Mandela was the inspiration behind Laureus and I’m sure he would support everything we can do to use sport to achieve a greater good.”
Mercedes has been nominated for World Team of the Year, an accolade it won in 2018, as well as in 2010, for its achievements the prior season as Brawn GP.
Bayern Munich, Liverpool FC, LA Lakers, Kansas City Chiefs and Argentina’s Men’s Rugby Team are also nominated.
MotoGP World Champion Joan Mir has been nominated for the Breakthrough of the Year award.
