F1 | Drivers have dinner together before the Abu Dhabi weekend: a Ferrari driver picks up the bill
All the Formula 1 drivers gathered for dinner together ahead of the Abu Dhabi weekend, and the bill was paid by a Ferrari driver. On the eve of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the final chapter of the F1 season, the grid decided to take a moment to relax away from the pressure of the garages and the constant presence of the media. As has been the case for several years now, the entire group met for a dinner that has become a genuine tradition within the paddock.
The evening gave everyone a valuable chance to ease the tension of the season finale, find a moment of light-heartedness, and close the year together. Judging from the photos shared on social media by the drivers themselves, the atmosphere appeared calm and cheerful, creating the perfect backdrop for the night.
It was a rare moment of camaraderie between drivers who, during race weekends, barely have time to chat without a microphone pointed at them. For some — including Kimi Antonelli, Gabriel Bortoleto, and Isack Hadjar — it was the first time taking part in this gathering.
Revealed who paid for the dinner
Who picked up the bill? It was Esteban Ocon who revealed the answer. In the caption of his Instagram post, the French Haas driver wanted to thank Lewis Hamilton. It appears that the Ferrari driver was the one who paid for everyone, something he had already done on several previous occasions.
Beyond the simple act of covering the bill, the dinner is a powerful reminder that Formula 1 is about far more than wheel-to-wheel battles and championship points. Once the helmets come off, these drivers share an extraordinary bond forged by the same passion, risks and dreams. Gathering together hours before the last green light of the year is the perfect way to celebrate that camaraderie and close out the season as one big, extended family.
Dec 5, 2025Sofia Bianchi
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