F1

MAX VERSTAPPEN has broken an “unwritten rule” by not showing up the Formula One drivers’ end of season dinner in Abu Dhabi. The new tradition is supposed to see all 20 drivers come together following the conclusion of the campaign to celebrate over dinner and drinks.
Formula One drivers gathered for dinner in Abu Dhabi following the final Grand Prix of the season
Max Verstappen was nowhere to be seenCredit: Splash
But this year’s meal had a number of notable absentees including world champion Verstappen.
Only 11 of this year’s drivers posed for a picture in the restaurant with the likes of Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, Carlos Sainz, George Russell and Daniel Ricciardo all present.
While McLaren stars Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were with the group, but missed out on the snap around the table.
And despite seven drivers including Sergio Perez and Fernando Alonso missing the dinner, it’s Verstappen’s no-show that will cause the biggest stir.
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As the world champion he is on the unfortunate end of an unwritten rule that means he should be the one footing the bill.
Former Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg previously took to social media to let fans know about the secret ruling, saying: “The hidden agreement usually is that the world champion pays.”
Although that wasn’t the case at last year’s dinner when Verstappen got away with not paying once again.
Instead it was Hamilton that laid down his credit card despite the Dutchman being the champ in 2022.
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And there were no missing drivers that year as they all gathered to say goodbye to the retiring Sebastian Vettel after his last season on the grid.
It was a rare occasion to see all 20 drivers in the same place as Pierre Gasly revealed on the Beyond The Grid podcast.
He said: “I’ll remember that moment forever. It was the first time in five years we all got together.
“That’s what made it so authentic, and that’s probably one of the very few times you’ve seen the real side of people and drivers.
“You’ve always got closer relationships with certain drivers, but it’s almost like on that dinner, from the moment we closed the door, we all took our cap off our heads, and we’re like, ‘Okay, now, it’s just you get whatever you see.'”
As world champion Verstappen was expected to pay for the dinnerCredit: Alamy More

SHOCKING footage has emerged showing a mass brawl between boozed up guests at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.Celebrations from fans at the event got completely out of hand as a huge fight broke out at the £1billion Yas Marina Circuit as guests flung bottles at each other.
A huge brawl broke out at an F1 afterparty on a balcony at the Yas Marina CircuitCredit: X
Men were seen throwing prosecco bottles at each other in the brawlCredit: X
Security struggled to contain the trouble as they were outnumberedCredit: X
Max Verstappen secured his 19th win of the season as the Red Bull driver celebrated being crowned Formula One world champion again in style.
But security had to intervene as revellers brawled at an exclusive event that took place on a balcony overlooking the course that was covered in Red Bull-branded parasols.
The F1 fans in attendance, some of which are said to be British, began hitting each other with bottles and jumping over furniture to get at one another.
Further videos showed more chaotic scenes from what appears to be a race afterparty, and it remains unclear whether there were multiple small fights or if they were linked. 
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One person who claimed to have been at the event and witnessed the scenes shared footage on X and wrote: “Can’t take the British no where can ye.”
The clip starts with a woman yelling at a group of men that were trying to get past her, with security staff separating them.

Then another woman puts her arm around one man’s neck and tries to restrain him from getting involved.
But chaos soon broke out as a number of battles broke out as more people continued to join in.
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One reveller in a red t-shirt could be seen scrambling over white couches to whack someone before they were pulled back, then a man in a white shirt retaliates by striking him.
Anger continued to boil over as several men began using bottles of wine and beer as weapons in the fight.
One throws what looks to be a prosecco bottle straight at another male while others are spotted with larger bottles in the melee.
Security try to hold them back as the red VIP cordons are sent flying to the floor as the staff quickly get outnumbered.
A DJ is then heard telling the gathering crowd “let’s go” before he suddenly realises that trouble has broken out.
He then urges security to go over to a table to deal with the aggressors while Kanye West’s hit ‘All of the Lights’ song is played in the background.
The rapper, 46, was actually among the VIP guests in attendance at the grand prix on Sunday.
A host of other big names, including both Naomi Campbell and Priyanka Chopra, were also spotted at the race.
Red Bull are yet to comment on the incident.
Max Verstappen secured his 19th win of the season at the Abu Dhabi GPCredit: Getty More

MAX VERSTAPPEN was victorious for the 19th time this season while George Russell’s third place was enough to secure second-spot in the constructors’ championship for Mercedes – worth $10million.Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who was second in the race, tried a last-ditch attempt to stop Russell with some smart thinking.
Verstappen ended the Abu Dhabi GP in styleCredit: EPA
Verstappen won a third successive Drivers ChampionshipCredit: AP
He allowed Red Bull’s Sergio Perez to overtake him on the final lap in the hope the Mexican could make up for his incoming five-second penalty for clashing with Lando Norris.
However, Perez was unable to pull the necessary gap and resulted in him finishing fourth and Russell keeping third.
Lewis Hamilton’s ninth place sealed the deal with Ferrari’s strategy backfiring as Carlos Sainz was forced to pit for tyres late on, dropping him out of the points as Mercedes beat the Italian team by three points.
Russell said: “It means a huge amount.
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“There are so many people back at the factory, Brackley, Brixworth, who have worked so hard to achieve this. It has been a really challenging season.
“I have let the side down a couple of  times this year so I am pleased to bring it across the line.
“It was tight with Checo [Perez] at the end and I thought Charles was going to back me up, but respect to him for keeping it clean.
“The tyres were dropping off but I was really pleased to have secured P2 for the team. I’m sure the team will have a few drinks tonight.”
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Verstappen put on a show for fans as he did some donuts in the Red Bull carCredit: Getty
It was a 21st podium finish for Max VerstappenCredit: Getty
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Leclerc added: “On one hand I’m really happy because on a weekend like this, there wasn’t one thing we could have done better as a team.
“We did an incredible job doing everything right – strategy, qualifying. It’s just a shame we finished third in the constructors’.
“That’s all that mattered to me at the end of the season and we didn’t achieve that.”
Verstappen, who won the title in the Qatar sprint race, celebrated by pulling donuts on the grid as his team celebrated the most successful-ever season in F1.
He said: “It was an incredible season, it was a bit emotional on the last lap. The last time sitting in the car which of course has given me a lot.
“Of course, very proud to win the final race, I have to say thanks to everyone at Red Bull.
“It’s been an incredible year. It will be hard to do something similar, but we definitely enjoyed this year.
“It will be very hard to have another season like this, we know that, you always want to do better, but doing better is not always race wins and winning the championship.
Hamilton finished 9th in a disappointing race, but third overall in the standingsCredit: Alamy
”We are working hard for next year for a very competitive car
“For sure all the other teams want to try and beat us next year, but we are ready for the battle and in the meantime we’re going to enjoy this year as well.”
He made a good start but quickly came under pressure from Leclerc, who knew the opening laps would present his best opportunity to try and get past the champion.
The Ferrari man pressed hard but was unable to find a way through, allowing Verstappen to start increasing his advantage over the rest of the field.
Further back, Hamilton, who started 11th, had a battle with Perez for eighth place as the two went wheel to wheel.
However, Sainz was unable to make any headway after starting in 16th place in his Ferrari.
A slow stop for Norris in his McLaren promoted Russell a spot while Hamilton suffered a damaged front wing after diving into the back of Pierre Gasly.
The seven-time world champion was issued with a toe-curling rallying call from boss Toto Wolff over the team’s radio.
“Lewis, second quickest car last lap, you’re quick,” said the Austrian. Hamilton replied: “Thanks, Toto.”
Hamilton has had his struggles with the car this seasonCredit: AFP
Hamilton was in the thick of the action scrapping for the crucial points in Merc’s battle with Ferrari.
At one point he tangled with Fernando Alonso with Hamilton claiming he was “brake tested” by the Aston Martin driver.
Hamilton moved into the points after passing Sainz on lap 48, it was a great sweeping overtake from the Brit that moved Mercedes into second place in the championship – with Hamilton finishing third in the individual standings.
Up the road ahead, Norris and Perez banged wheels earning the Mexican a five second time penalty.
Sainz then moved into 10th to swing the championship back in Ferrari’s favour, with Leclerc holding on to the second place.
And the Italian team were given more breathing space when Perez passed Russell to move into third place and dropping the Brit to fourth.
However, once Perez’s penalty was applied that meant Russell was prompted while Ferrari’s gamble to leave Sainz out until a safety car backfired.
There was none and it meant Sainz had to come in on the final lap for new tyres as part of the rules to use at least two compounds.
His DNF afforded Hamilton a late mistake where he was passed by Yuki Tsunoda for eighth with the Brit ending a miserable year in ninth place.
It was another champagne finish for Max VerstappenCredit: Getty
Fireworks lit up the sky as Verstappen won yet another Drivers ChampionshipCredit: Getty More