Alexander Albon has won the 'Rookiꦰe of the Year' award at the FIA’s prize giving ceremony in Paris for an impressive debut Formula 1 campaign.

Albon had initially been signed up to race in Formula E with Nissan but got a last-minute call to complete Toro Rosso’s 2019 driver line-up ꦯalongside Daniil Kvyat and make his F1 bow.

Despite having never previ🔴ously driven F1 machinery before 2019, the British-born Thai adapted quickly and turned in a string of strong displꦓays that ultimately led to a mid-season promotion to Red Bull as replacement for the underperforming Pierre Gasly.

Albon hit the ground running on his Red Bull debut at the Belgian Grand Pri♎x and a run of consecutive top six finishes led to him being retained at the senior team for 2020. He ultimately ended the year eighth in the drivers’ championship, scoring a total of 92 points.

“It’s been something I co💎uld never imagine,” Albon said upon receℱiving the award.

“Even just to be in Formula E and a professional dri꧑ver, I was amazed and it felt like a progress in the whole professional𝓰 world of motor racing.

“Then I got the call f🅘rom Toro Rosso, which was a dream come true and then fast-forward sixᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚ months to get a call from Red Bull to be in the main team, it was amazing.”

Both Red Bull drivers picked up awards at the gala, with A𒐪lbon’s teammate Max Verstappen winning the FIA 'Action of the Year' award for his overtake on Charles Leclerc on the outside of Club corner during th🐎eir epic scrap at the British Grand Prix.

Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes were al✨so officially crownedꦬ world champions as they were presented with the championship-winning trophies.

The late Niki Lauda was also honoured w🎀ith the 'Personality of the Year' award, having played an intrumental role at Mercedes until his death shortly before the Monaco Grand Prix.