As tradition dictates, every year the drivers gather for dinner before the final race in Abu Dhabi. The group photo is a must, and many drivers post it on their social media with a caption.
This year, Lewis Hamilton wrote: “Class of 2025. We are the only people in the world doing what we do, and for that we are incredibly lucky. I’m grateful to this group of drivers that I have the privilege to race against, and even though we are rivals, there is only respect, and I am proud to call them friends.”
However, many drivers wrote very little, some with rather sarcastic captions. In any case, after the dinner, fans always ask the same question: who paid the bill?
Last year it was Valtteri Bottas, who will return to the category with Cadillac in 2026. This year, against all expectations, Pierre Gasly ended up picking up the tab.
Max Verstappen explained how he should have been the one to pay: “Last year Valtteri was really kind and paid. So then the other drivers started joking, saying, ‘This year Max pays,’ and I replied, ‘Yes, of course,’ but I was sitting on the opposite side of the entrance to the private room.”
“So for most of the evening we had fun, then people started wanting to leave, and that’s when we realized Pierre had already paid for everyone,” he explained. “I was sipping my gin and tonic on the other side… so I guess next time, before entering, I’ll have to tell him that at the end of the evening the bill is on me, so I can finally treat everyone myself.”
Max then admitted that he doesn’t mind spending on occasions like this, so the drivers already know who to thank when it comes to next year’s dinner!
The annual dinner remains a rare moment of camaraderie in a high-pressure sport. While the battle on track remains fierce, stories like Pierre Gasly sneaking away to pay the bill highlight the unique bond shared by the twenty drivers who make up the most exclusive club in motorsport.
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