‘This Award is a Joke!!’ – F1 Fans Stunned After Shock Driver of the Day Vote
Formula 1 fans were left reeling after Sunday’s Grand Prix produced one of the most controversial “Driver of the Day” results in recent memory. The post-race vote, a fan-driven tradition that allows viewers to recognize the most impressive performance on track, sparked outrage when the honor went to a driver many believe didn’t deserve it.
The Grand Prix itself delivered a spectacle of wheel-to-wheel action, surprise strategies, and dramatic incidents, but the announcement that Driver X had won the fan-voted award sent social media into a frenzy. Despite finishing outside the points and being involved in a questionable on-track incident, the driver managed to secure the majority of fan votes — leaving many scratching their heads.
“This award is a joke!!” one fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “How can someone who caused a collision and finished P15 be voted Driver of the Day? Absolute nonsense.”
Another added, “There were so many standout performances today — [Driver A] carving through the field, [Driver B] managing a perfect undercut, [Driver C] holding off [Driver D] for 20 laps — and this is who they vote for? Embarrassing.”
The backlash wasn’t limited to fans. Pundits and former drivers also chimed in, questioning the integrity of the vote and suggesting it has increasingly become a popularity contest rather than a reflection of on-track excellence.
“It’s a fan vote, so naturally it’ll always have a bit of bias,” former F1 driver Martin Brundle said in a post-race interview. “But you’d hope people vote based on performance, not personality or memes. There were at least four other drivers today who delivered flawless drives. That award should reflect that.”
The Driver of the Day award, introduced in 2016, is designed to give fans a voice in recognizing exceptional driving performances, often rewarding drivers who made dramatic comebacks, executed daring overtakes, or overcame adversity. In recent years, however, criticism has mounted over what many call “meme voting,” where online fan bases rally around a driver for reasons unrelated to actual performance.
In this case, some fans believe the winner’s large online following played a major role. With millions of followers across platforms and a highly active online fanbase, Driver X has become somewhat of a social media darling — making them a frequent contender for the vote regardless of their race-day display.
The FIA has no plans to change the system, emphasizing that the vote is meant to reflect fan sentiment, not objective performance metrics. Still, some fans are calling for reforms — such as a shortlist curated by experts or a weighted system that factors in both fan opinion and expert evaluation.
Despite the uproar, the driver in question appeared unfazed by the criticism. “It’s always great to feel the support from the fans,” they said post-race. “It wasn’t our best day on track, but we’ll take the positives and come back stronger.”
As F1 continues to grow in global popularity, balancing the spirit of fan engagement with sporting credibility will remain a challenge. For now, one thing is clear: the debate over who really deserved Driver of the Day is far from over.
