{"id":96622,"date":"2023-11-27T15:39:40","date_gmt":"2023-11-27T15:39:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stopsmokingway.com\/?p=96622"},"modified":"2023-11-27T15:39:40","modified_gmt":"2023-11-27T15:39:40","slug":"verstappen-appears-to-break-hidden-agreement-as-f1-stars-go-out-in-abu-dhabi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stopsmokingway.com\/racing\/verstappen-appears-to-break-hidden-agreement-as-f1-stars-go-out-in-abu-dhabi\/","title":{"rendered":"Verstappen appears to break ‘hidden agreement’ as F1 stars go out in Abu Dhabi"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

Max Verstappen appears to have broken a “hidden agreement” after failing to turn up to the traditional post-season driver’s meal in Abu Dhabi. The World Champion is expected to pay for everyone’s dinner in the Middle East but Verstappen was nowhere to be seen in pictures posted online.\u00a0<\/p>\n

And he wasn’t the only one who was absent. 11 out of 20 grid drivers were snapped at the\u00a0Hakkasan\u00a0restaurant in the United Arab Emirates capital.\u00a0Zhou Guanyu, Valtteri Bottas, Yuki Tsunoda, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton were pictured on the right-hand side of the table.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile,\u00a0Lance Stroll, Pierre Gasly, Carlos Sainz, George Russell, Alex Albon and Daniel Ricciardo were sat on the opposite side. Video evidence later revealed that McLaren’s\u00a0Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris had been present but missed the photo, leaving seven drivers unaccounted for.<\/p>\n

Among those, who didn’t appear to be there was Red Bull duo Verstappen and Sergio Perez,\u00a0Haas pairing, Logan Sargeant, Esteban Ocon and\u00a0Fernando Alonso. But the Dutchman’s absence will be the most controversial of all.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

In 2016, Nico Rosberg offered some insight into the meal on social media, saying: \u201cThe hidden agreement usually is that the world champion pays.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite Verstappen winning the title in 2022 it was confirmed that Hamilton had organised and paid for the entire grid\u2019s meal with Alex Albon explaining: “We had a set menu. There were a lot of people with dietary requirements like obviously, Lewis Hamilton is vegan.<\/p>\n

Don’t miss… <\/strong>
Everything we know about the three F1 teams changing their names for 2024 season[LATEST] <\/strong>
Sergio Perez proves F1 fans right as Lewis Hamilton suffers 10-year first[LATEST] <\/strong>
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix UK start time, weather forecast and full schedule[LATEST] <\/strong><\/p>\n