Motorsport.com July Awards: Verstappen Overtake, Norris Win Top Honors

Motorsport.com's July reader polls have closed, honoring the month's standout performers across global motorsport. Max Verstappen's audacious Turn 1 lunge on Lewis Hamilton at the Hungarian Grand Prix won Best Moment, while reigning world champion Lando Norris claimed Best F1 Driver after his first 2026 victory in Budapest.

Why it matters:

These awards capture the pulse of the season at its midpoint. Verstappen's overtake signaled Red Bull remains a force despite Ferrari's charge, while Norris's overdue win reinforced McLaren's championship credentials. Beyond F1, the results show part-time specialists and veteran champions rewriting records in their respective series.

The details:

• Best Moment: Verstappen's Lap 16 double overtake on Liam Lawson and Hamilton into Turn 1 at the Hungarian GP, a pass Hamilton admitted he never anticipated.
• Best F1 Driver: Norris secured his first 2026 win at the Hungarian GP, his 12th career victory, edging Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen.
• Best NASCAR Driver: Corey Heim won the Brickyard 400, becoming the first part-time driver in 15 years to claim a crown jewel and the first with a multi-win season since 1987.
• Best MotoGP Rider: Marc Marquez swept the Sachsenring with pole, sprint victory, and the Grand Prix win.
• Best IndyCar Driver: Alex Palou triumphed in Nashville to extend his championship lead, staying on course for a fifth title.
• Best Sportscar Driver: Kevin Magnussen earned his maiden WEC win in Brazil with BMW's hypercar team.

What's next:

August brings more critical championship rounds across F1, NASCAR, and IndyCar. Fans can cast votes for next month's nominees as the season intensifies.