Red Bull star driver Max Verstappen was named Formula One 2024 world champion at the glamorous end-of-season prize giving gala held at BK Arena in Kigali on Friday, December 13. Hosted in collaboration with Visit Rwanda and Rwanda Automobile Club (RAC), the FIA Awards are held annually to celebrate top drivers, manufacturers, teams and legends from the FIA World Championships, while also highlighting the unsung heroes of the past twelve months. ALSO READ: Verstappen completes FIA community service in Kigali Verstappen received the trophy from president Paul Kagame as the Formula One champion, beating McLaren star Lando Norris and Frenchman Charles Lecrerc (Ferrari) who emerged second and third respectively. The Dutchman admits, This season, as you could see also in the [season highlights] video, was quite up and down. We had a great start to the year. Everything was looking great, especially from the outside.” On his side, Norris said Verstappen had an easy campaign this season to win his fourth title of his career and hopes for the better in 2025. “I think he's still had a relatively easy season. If we had a better car at the beginning of the year, we would have been fighting him a lot more,” Norris said. “It was tough season of course. I tried to give my best I could but this year it wasn’t enough. Sometimes I am to have finish second to Max because what he has achieved wasn’t bad at all,” he added. The FIA Awards attracted over 800 delegates, mainly heads of motorsport federations and drivers, from across the globe. It also marked the closing of the FIA General Assembly which took place in Kigali from December 10-13. As 2024 marks the FIA’s 120th year, and the Awards served as a golden occasion to celebrate what was dubbed “120 Years of Legends” as the sport’s brightest stars – from grassroots to the pinnacle of road, off-road, and circuit – and motor sport’s most renowned personalities come together to celebrate achievements past and present. A host of more drivers, manufacturers and legends were honoured with trophies at the Awards. Below are the top winners: FIA Karting World Champion-OK: Ethan Jeff-Hall FIA Karting World Champion-Junior: Kenzo Craigie FIA W2RC Manufacturer World Champion: Toyota Gazoo Racing FIA World Rally-Raid champion: Nasser Al-Attiyah FIA World RX Champion: Johan Kristoffersson ABB FIA Formula E Team Champion: Jaguar TCS ABB FIA Formula E World Champion: Pascal Wehrlein FIA Rookie of the Tear: Gabriel Bortoleto FIA WEC Manufacturer World Champion: Toyota Gazoo Racing FIA World Endurance Championship Drivers: Kevin Estre, Andre Lotterer and Laurens Vanthoor FIA WRC Manufacturer World Champion: Toyota Gazoo Racing FIA World Rally Champion: Thierry Neuville FIA Formula 2 Champion: Gabriel Bortoleto FIA Formula 3 Champion: Leonardo Fornaroli FIA Formula 1 Constructor World Champion: McLaren
