Schumacher, Räikkönen and Bahrain stewards rewarded by the FIA

Coronavirus obliges, the traditional Gala of the International Automobile Federation (FIA) consisted of a gigantic videoconference, Friday December 18 in the evening. The multiple champions of the disciplines sanctioned by the FIA ​​received their trophy while several special prizes rewarded outstanding images or athletes.

In the first place, Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) was voted Personality of the Year by a panel of FIA-accredited journalists for the third time in his career. As a bonus, he also won the Automobile Club of Italy (ACI) trophy for best driver during the three Grands Prix held at Monza, Imola and Mugello (59 pts, two victories, a seventh place and three best laps).

The Briton beat other drivers of Formula 1 as Pierre Gasly (Alpha Tauri), Lando Norris (McLaren), Kimi Räikkönen (Alfa Romeo), Daniel Ricciardo (Renault), Max Verstappen (Red Bull), future ex-F1 boss Chase Carey, Mercedes team principal Toto wolff and the vice-world rally champion (WRC) Elfyn Evans (Toyota).

President Jean Todt was keen to award a special prize to Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) for his seventh title as well as Michael Schumacher for his journey and his Keep Fighting Foundation initiative, which recently donated 5 helmets to the FIA.

His wife, Corinna Schumacher, collected the prize on the FIA ​​stage in Geneva (Switzerland). “Michael has always shown generosity to those in need. With the Keep Fighting foundation, we want to continue the work he started. »

“Michael and Lewis are champions but also incredible human beings, continued Jean Todt. Michael was always ready to support any type of action for the benefit of society, for example with his work on road safety. Let's not forget that every year 1,4 million people die on the roads, so it is essential to have people like Michael and Lewis to engage with and educate young people. »

Bahrain's first aid workers awarded prizes

THERomain Grosjean's accident at the start of the Bahrain Grand Prix made people shudder. The FIA ​​President highlighted the work of the commissioners by awarding an award to Abdulaziz Al Thawadi, head of the Bahrain Motor Federation (BMF) as well as to the commissioners: Abdulla Qamber, Mehab Medhat Fawzi, Osama Mojamed Alsherooqi, Ahmed Abdulla Mohammed, Dr Yasir Yar Muhammad, Ahmed Saeed, Atif Turkey, Joby Mathey and Thaer Ali Taher.

F1 doctor Dr Ian Roberts and medical car driver Alan van der Merwe were also cited. 

“We are all very relieved to see Romain come out of it and recover his abilities (after hand burns. Editor’s note) but we must understand the dynamics of this accident, explains Jean Todt. We must learn from it, as we do with all accidents. This is how we will make motorsport safer. »

Young and old in the spotlight

The Newbie of the Year award went to Yuki tsunoda (20 years old), vice-champion of Formula 2 for his first season in the backroom of Formula 1. The Japanese will continue his journey in 2021 within the AlphaTauri team in F1 and is expected to face veteran of the sport, Kimi Räikkönen (41).

The Finn was also chosen by Internet users to obtain the Action of the Year prize, thanks to his first thunderous ride in Portimao (Portugal). Starting 16th, the Alfa Romeo driver had gained 10 places!

# FIAPrizeGiving2020 - The #FIAActionoftheYear award celebrates the most spectacular moments of the racing year and is the only prize of the evening voted for by motor sport fans around the world. Congrats Kimi Räikkonen for his fantastic start at the @F1 #PortugueseGP pic.twitter.com/EQla0qHiCK

- FIA (@fia) December 18, 2020

“Thank you for coming up with this trophy for me, at least I won one this year, Iceman laughed. It was a good start, although unfortunately I didn't score a point in this race. I hope next year it will be better. »