The FIA F1 Action of the Year Award is an annual prize presented by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile to recognize the most spectacular, thrilling, or skillful on-track maneuver performed by a driver during the Formula 1 season. The award was introduced in 2013 as part of a broader set of FIA Prize Giving ceremonies that honor achievements across motorsport disciplines. Unlike the Driver's Championship, which rewards consistency over a season, the Action of the Year Award celebrates a single moment of brilliance, often involving overtakes, defensive moves, or car control under extreme conditions. The winner is determined by a public vote conducted on the FIA and Formula 1 websites, with the final result announced at the FIA Prize Giving Gala in December. The award has grown in popularity as social media amplifies highlight clips, making it a topic of debate among fans who argue over which overtake or defensive move deserves the title. The 2026 award will cover maneuvers from the 2026 F1 season, a year that introduces major technical regulation changes, including lighter cars, active aerodynamics, and a revised power unit formula, which could alter the nature of racing and the types of actions considered award-worthy. The market resolves to Yes if a specific driver named in the prediction wins the 2026 FIA F1 Action of the Year Award. The market closes early if the award is presented before the scheduled resolution date. Interest in this market stems from the unpredictability of the award, as fan voting can produce surprising results, and from the broader context of the 2026 regulation overhaul, which may create new opportunities for dramatic on-track action.

Historical Context

The FIA F1 Action of the Year Award was first presented in 2013 at the FIA Prize Giving Gala in Paris. The inaugural winner was Jules Bianchi for a pass on Pastor Maldonado at the Malaysian Grand Prix. Bianchi's win was notable because he drove for Marussia, a backmarker team, proving that the award could go to drivers outside the top teams. The award was created to complement existing FIA honors like the Driver of the Year award, which recognizes overall performance, and to generate fan interest through public voting. In 2014, the award went to Daniel Ricciardo for a multi-car overtake at the Hungarian Grand Prix, a move that involved passing three cars in one corner. This set a template for the type of action that wins: overtakes involving multiple cars, late braking, or wheel-to-wheel contact. The voting process has evolved over time. Initially, the FIA selected a shortlist of five to ten actions and opened voting on its website for several weeks. In 2018, Formula 1 began promoting the vote on its own platforms, including the F1 app and social media, which increased participation. The 2020 award, won by Carlos Sainz for a pass on Lando Norris at the Styrian Grand Prix, saw over 500,000 votes cast. The award has also been criticized for bias toward high-profile drivers. Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton have won six of the thirteen awards between them. Drivers from smaller teams, such as Kevin Magnussen in 2014 and Sergio Perez in 2015, have won, but they are exceptions. The 2021 award, won by Hamilton for his pass on Perez, generated controversy because the move occurred in the season finale and was part of a title-deciding race, leading some to argue that the award rewards narrative significance over pure skill. The 2022 and 2023 awards went to Leclerc and Verstappen respectively, both for overtakes that were widely shared on social media. The 2024 award was won by Oscar Piastri for a pass on Verstappen at the Belgian Grand Prix, marking the first win for a rookie since Bianchi. This history shows that the award tends to favor overtakes in high-profile races, often involving championship contenders, and that fan voting can produce results that reflect popularity as much as technical merit.