2015 Laureus Awards: Daniel Ricciardo Wins Breakthrough Of The Year
The 2015 Laureus World Sports Awards took place at the Shanghai Grand Theatre on April 15, 2015. Among the remarkable sport personalities recognised in the said awards ceremony was Australian Formula One, or F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo, who picked up the Breakthrough of the Year award after a breakthrough maiden season (winning three Grand Prix events) with Red Bull.
This year’s award ceremony is the 16th edition since its inception in 2000. This year also marked the second time that Benedict Cumberbatch had hosted the said event.
Ricciardo beat defending US Open champion Croatian tennis player Marin Cilic, footballers James Rodriguez and Mario Gotze, and alpine skier Mikaela Schiffrin to win the award. Ricciardo is the fourth F1 driver to be given the Breakthrough of the Year Award. Juan Pablo Montoya received the recognition in 2002, while Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton and MhcLaren driver Jenson Button accepted the same award in 2008 and 2010, respectively.
After scoring a ninth-place finish last race at the 2015 Chinese Grand Prix, Ricciardo is gearing up towards the fourth round of the F1 season in Bahrain. According to Ricciardo, he has some “nice memories” about Bahrain, having had his best qualifying lap record at the Sakhir circuit. He added that the Sakhir circuit is “a good track to race on.”
“Last year the race was one of the best,” Ricciardo said. “You can pass, and moving to an evening race spices things up a little, it kept you guessing with the tyres.”
Ricciardo qualified at the third pole in Bahrain in 2014. However, Force India’s Sergio Perez outlasted him during the main race and finished at the fourth place.
Winners at the 2015 Laureus Awards
Sportsman of the Year - Novak Djokovic
Sportswoman of the Year - Genzebe Dibaba
Team of the Year - Germany's Football Team
Comeback of the Year - Schalk Burger
Breakthrough of the Year - Daniel Ricciardo
Action Sportsperson of the Year - Alan Eustace
Sportsperson of the Year with Disability - Tatyana McFadden
Sport for Good Award - Skateistan
Academy Exceptional Achievement - Li Na
Spirit of the Sport - Yao Ming
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