At the conclusion of the 2023 season at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Max Verstappen sealed the year with an incredible performance. Red Bull, under Verstappen’s leadership, achieved a remarkable string of victories throughout the season. However, the triumphs came with a cost, with the team obligated to pay a $7.5 million entry fee.
While Max Verstappen consistently tries to maintain a humble and modest status in every scenario, recent events have raised eyebrows among many individuals. The breaking of a hidden rule has sparked attention and intrigue among the F1 community.
Max Verstappen breaks hidden F1 rule
The Red Bull driver has notably dodged an “unwritten rule” within the Formula One community by choosing not to attend the end-of-season dinner for drivers in Abu Dhabi. The new tradition is designed to bring together all 20 drivers for a celebratory gathering following the end of the season with dinner and drinks.
Max Verstappen breaks ‘unwritten rule’ with F1 dinner snub https://t.co/8jNBecfbWW [via @FOXSportsAUS] pic.twitter.com/L6YgjZIXry
— Ńasser 1️⃣ Million Tweets 🐦 (@nasser_mo3gza) November 29, 2023
However, this year’s dinner witnessed several absences, most importantly of the Champion, Max Verstappen, as reported by the Sun. A photo taken at the restaurant featured only 11 drivers, including Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, Carlos Sainz, George Russell and Daniel Ricciardo.
Even though McLaren’s drivers, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, were physically present, they were not captured in the photo. Additionally, seven drivers, including Fernando Alonso and Sergio Perez, also missed the dinner. However, it is Verstappen’s absence that will most likely generate the most attention, as it was his responsibility to pay the bill as the number one driver on the grid.
Lewis Hamilton proposed the end-of-season F1 driver dinner idea
Lewis Hamilton observed the absence of Max Verstappen as he arrived at the dinner accompanied by fellow drivers. As a seven-time world champion and a formidable force in the industry, Hamilton not only understood the significance of the event but also carried out his responsibilities well.
This end-of-season Formula 1 driver get-together was originally Lewis Hamilton's suggestion, I'm told, and he picked up the bill. And they all had as good a time as it looks they did https://t.co/NvG7WugRmt
— Andrew Benson (@andrewbensonf1) November 18, 2022
Despite it traditionally being Verstappen’s responsibility to cover all the expenses, Hamilton willingly shouldered all the financial burden. Remarkably, it was the British driver who initially proposed the dinner idea, and in a gesture that played a huge role in shaping his public image, he took the burden upon himself to settle the bill on behalf of the Dutch sensation, respecting the presence of the other drivers.
Do you think Hamilton intentionally arranged the dinner to fix his public image? Or was the situation entirely coincidental? Tell us in the comment section below.
