Cape Town - Nico Rosberg has been nominated for the Laureus World Sport Award's 'Breakthrough of the Year' category following his maiden F1 World title.
READ: Olympic stars dominate Laureus nominations
Last year the German raced to the victory in the Drivers' Championship, winning nine grands prix and taking 16 podium finishes in the 21-race season.
His efforts earned him a nomination for 'Breakthrough of the Year' where he is up against athletes Almaz Ayana and Wayde van Niekerk, English Premier League Champions Leicester City, European Championship quarter-finalists Iceland and Olympic Rugby Sevens gold medal winners Fiji.
"2016 was a really satisfying year for me, both for my Formula 1 career and for my personal goals for the future," Rosberg told Sky Sports.
"To be nominated for a Laureus Award by the world’s media is a very pleasing way to celebrate moving on to something new in my life.
"Laureus Awards are really prestigious because of the calibre of the Academy Members who vote for them, but, as a Laureus Ambassador for Sport for Good, for me it’s also about the amazing work that we do for disadvantaged kids around the world."
For the third year running Mercedes are up for the 'Team of the Year' award where they will take on European Champions Portugal, Champions League winners Real Madrid and Neymar-inspired Olympic gold medal winners Brazil as well as Chicago Cubs, winner of their first baseball World Series for 108 years, and NBA Champions Cleveland Cavaliers.
The winners will be announced in Monaco on February 14.