F1 News: Max Verstappen Missing as Drivers End 2024 Season Together - Lewis Hamilton Steps Up

Max Verstappen's unexpected absence from the traditional end-of-season driver's dinner broke a long-standing informal tradition, leaving Lewis Hamilton to step in and cover the costs for the attending drivers.

Max Verstappen deviated from a long-standing informal tradition by not attending the post-season dinner in Abu Dhabi, where the World Champion is expected to foot the bill.

Key Takeaways

• Verstappen's Absence: Max Verstappen, the current F1 World Champion, broke with an informal tradition by not showing up at the traditional post-season driver's meal, where he was expected to pay for everyone's dinner.
• Driver Attendance at the Dinner: Eleven out of twenty grid drivers were present at the Hakkasan restaurant in Abu Dhabi, including notable names like Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, and George Russell.
• Hamilton's Generosity: Despite Verstappen's absence, Lewis Hamilton organized and paid for the meal, accommodating various dietary requirements, including his own vegan diet.

Post-season get together 🤩

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

— Formula 1 (@F1) November 27, 2023

Max Verstappen, the reigning World Champion, was notably absent from the post-season driver's dinner in Abu Dhabi. This gathering of talent, an event that's come to be tradition, usually sees the World Champion picking up the tab for the evening. 

Nico Rosberg, the 2016 World Champion, once shared on social media:

“The hidden agreement usually is that the world champion pays.”

This year, however, the meal went a little differently. Verstappen, who has clinched the title for each of the last three years, did not attend the dinner, leaving many to wonder about his decision. His absence was not the only surprise of the evening. 

Out of the twenty drivers on the grid, only eleven were snapped at the Hakkasan restaurant. This group included Zhou Guanyu, Valtteri Bottas, Yuki Tsunoda, Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton, Lance Stroll, Pierre Gasly, Carlos Sainz, George Russell, Alex Albon, and Daniel Ricciardo. McLaren's Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, though present, missed the opportunity to get in front of the camera.

Apart from Verstappen, other notable absences included his Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez, the Haas pairing, Logan Sargeant, Esteban Ocon, and Fernando Alonso. The Dutchman's absence was particularly controversial, given the expectations set by the tradition outlined by Nico.

In a generous gesture, Lewis Hamilton, who has been a champion 7 times over, stepped in to organise and pay for the meal.