Max Verstappen was unable to attend the traditional FIA end-of-season Gala, which this year was held in the Uzbek capital of Tashkent. A severe bout of flu forced the Red Bull driver to remain at his home in Monte Carlo, but the Dutch star was nevertheless one of the central figures of the evening organised by the FIA.
In addition to receiving the trophy for finishing the 2025 Formula 1 season as vice-world champion, behind the new title holder Lando Norris, Verstappen was awarded the prestigious Action of the Year prize. The award celebrates the single best move of the season, and for Verstappen it represents yet another addition to an already impressive collection.
The Dutchman is no stranger to this recognition. He previously won the Action of the Year award in 2014, when he was still competing in Formula 3, before claiming it again in 2015, 2016 and 2019. The 2025 success therefore marks the fifth time in his career that Verstappen has been honoured with this FIA award.
The move that made the difference
Since 2024, the format of the Action of the Year award has changed, with a single manoeuvre now being selected for each FIA World Championship. Verstappen claimed the prize in the Formula 1 category thanks to his spectacular outside overtake on Oscar Piastri at the restart of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola.
The daring move, executed around the outside under intense pressure, was widely praised in the days following the race. Among those who applauded the overtake was George Russell, a driver who is usually far from generous when it comes to complimenting Verstappen, underlining just how special the manoeuvre was.
In the final public vote, Max Verstappen’s Imola overtake beat an impressive pass by Ollie Bearman on Verstappen himself during the Mexican Grand Prix, as well as Lando Norris’ move on Oscar Piastri at the Austrian Grand Prix. It was a satisfying consolation prize in a season in which Max Verstappen ultimately had to accept handing over the world championship crown.
Verstappen’s win for the Imola overtake demonstrates that even in a season where he didn’t secure the championship, his raw racing talent and commitment to daring maneuvers remain unmatched. The move on Piastri—a high-risk, high-reward dive around the outside—epitomized the aggressive style that has defined his career. Securing the ‘Action of the Year’ for the fifth time reinforces his reputation as the grid’s most effective and exciting overtaker. Do you think Max Verstappen’s incredible outside pass on Oscar Piastri at Imola was truly the best overtake of the 2025 F1 season? Share your favourite action moment in the comments below!
Leave a Reply