Formula 1 enthusiasts are calling for a significant revamp or outright elimination of the Driver of the Day award following the recent Spanish Grand Prix. Despite Australian driver Oscar Piastri clinching victory, he received fewer votes than Max Verstappen, who faced controversy during the race. Piastri’s triumph marked his fifth win of the season, yet he has only garnered one Driver of the Day accolade, raising eyebrows among fans who feel he deserves more recognition for his remarkable performances.
Verstappen, a four-time world champion, finished fifth on track but dropped to tenth after incurring a ten-second penalty for causing a collision. Despite this, he secured 19.7% of the fan votes, while Piastri received 14.5%. The award, which previously granted an extra championship point to the winner, now simply serves as a way for fans to honour impressive performances, potentially risking its credibility as a true reflection of driver merit.
Piastri, despite leading the championship standings and having secured four pole positions and two fastest laps, is yet to receive the acknowledgment many believe he deserves, especially in light of his teammate Lando Norris also having just one Driver of the Day title despite his own Grand Prix victories. The voting structure seems unrepresentative, especially with fans favouring Verstappen, who, while he did put pressure on the McLarens throughout the race, ultimately had a questionable race filled with errors.
The controversy surrounding Verstappen’s driving was highlighted during the race’s closing laps, where he controversially defended his position against George Russell. This incident not only clouded his performance but also indicated a growing disconnect between how fans perceive driver accomplishments and the voting outcomes.
Nico Hulkenberg also attracted attention, securing fifth place from 15th on the grid yet receiving only 10.6% of the votes. The results have pushed fans and commentators alike to question the effectiveness of the award in truly reflecting drivers’ performances on race day.
As the award’s original intent was to enhance spectator engagement from its introduction in 2016, its credibility is now under threat. Fans, including commentator David Croft, have noted “weird decisions” in voting patterns, suggesting a need to rethink how the Driver of the Day is determined. The current format may undermine the meritocracy the award initially aimed to celebrate, leaving fans and drivers alike searching for a more meaningful approach to recognising top performers in Formula 1.