Verstappen SNUBS F1 rivals in shock break from tradition

After 22 weekends of frantic racing and the world championship honours all handed out, all the drivers who made it to Abu Dhabi to compete in the final race of the season traditionally go for dinner together to celebrate another year all wrapped up.

But after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, race winner and now three-time world champion Max Verstappen was nowhere to be seen as his colleagues wined and dined together.

He wasn’t the only driver to miss out with Fernando Alonso and Sergio Perez also elsewhere, but their absence wasn’t felt as keenly as there is reportedly an unwritten rule that the world champion picks up the tab.

Which, given everyone is celebrating the end of the season, and thus able to break with their strict diet and exercise regimes, is usually sizeable.

Who picked up the tab?

It's believed Lewis Hamilton had to pay in 2021, with the Dutchman not in attendance after picking up his first world title – although he did at least attend in 2022.

And so it remains to be seen who picked up the bill this time around, with Hamilton likely to have the most robust bank balance of those in attendance, although Charles Leclerc and Daniel Ricciardo aren’t exactly struggling in that regard.

Although with Verstappen absent, there’s every chance they decided to 'go Dutch’ and split the bill...

Post-season get together 🤩

Where would you sit?!#F1 #AbuDhabiGP (📸 @ZhouGuanyu24) pic.twitter.com/X9QNIxC6US

— Formula 1 (@F1) November 27, 2023

READ MORE: Verstappen caught red-handed in failed Red Bull sabotage

Related

F1 News & Gossip

Verstappen takes F1 swipe at Hamilton and rivals with ruthless remark

• Yesterday 22:57

Latest F1 News

Newey exit DATE revealed as Red Bull F1 chief set to leave

• Yesterday 08:27