Max Verstappen’s absence from the end-of-season FIA Prize Giving Gala has sparked debate, especially in light of the tougher sanctions introduced by the Federation in recent years. However, the regulations themselves include specific exceptions, which explain why the Red Bull driver will not be fined.
Max Verstappen will not be in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, for the FIA Prize Giving Ceremony, the event that officially brings the 2025 Formula 1 season to a close. The Red Bull driver finished second in the Drivers’ Championship behind Lando Norris and, as a top-three finisher, was required to attend the ceremony. Despite this obligation, Verstappen will not step onto the stage for a clear and formally recognized reason: a seasonal flu.
According to reports from Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, which is considered close to the Verstappen family, the four-time world champion has been dealing with flu symptoms since the days following the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Although he travelled to Milton Keynes just two days earlier to give a speech to Red Bull staff, Max Verstappen opted not to undertake the far more demanding journey to Central Asia. This decision was communicated to the FIA and falls under cases of force majeure.
The key issue lies in the regulations. Paragraph 9 of Article 6 of the 2025 Formula 1 Sporting Regulations states that “drivers classified first, second and third in the Drivers’ Championship must be present at the annual FIA Prize Giving ceremony.” At the same time, the same regulations and the FIA International Sporting Code allow for exemptions, including absences due to certified health reasons.
This is precisely why Why Verstappen, despite being officially absent, will not be required to pay a fine. This remains the case even after the tightening of penalties introduced in the 2025 FIA Code, which allows for fines of up to €120,000 for failing to comply with FIA instructions.
Comparisons with the past are inevitable. In 2021, Lewis Hamilton did not attend the FIA Gala following the controversial Abu Dhabi season finale and was fined €50,000, a sum later donated to charity. In that instance, however, no health-related reasons were cited, meaning the absence was considered a direct breach of the regulations.
The wider context makes the Why Verstappen situation even more sensitive, given recent tensions between the Dutch driver and the FIA. Just one year ago, at the Kigali Gala, Verstappen received a “community service” penalty for language used during a Singapore press conference. That episode reinforced the FIA’s hard line on respecting rules and official events.
This time, however, there will be no consequences. Why Max Verstappen’s absence is neither a protest nor a statement, but a circumstance explicitly предусмотрed and protected by the regulations. The FIA Gala will still celebrate a new era of Formula 1 with Lando Norris crowned world champion, while Verstappen’s name may still feature among the awards, as he is nominated for Action of the Year following his overtake on Oscar Piastri at Imola. No fine, therefore, just a justified absence clearly written into the rulebook.
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