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Topics: Formula 1, Lewis Hamilton, FIA, Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, Motorsport
James Taylor
Topics: Formula 1, Lewis Hamilton, FIA, Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, Motorsport
Lewis Hamilton has been punished by the FIA for missing their end-of-season gala dinner after a controversial finale to the Formula 1 world championship.
The 2025 F1 season drew to a close on Sunday with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where Lando Norris claimed his maiden world title.
It proved a nervy final race for the McLaren driver, who knew that failing to finish inside the top three would allow Max Verstappen to snatch the championship from him.
But Norris secured the podium he needed to deliver McLaren's first Drivers' Championship since 2008.
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Despite sealing the title at Yas Marina, Norris has yet to get his hands on the world championship trophy.
That is because F1's governing body, the FIA, waits to present the award at their annual end-of-season gala.
This year's ceremony will take place on Friday, 12 December at 18:00 GMT in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
The top three finishers in the F1 standings are required to attend, meaning Norris, Verstappen and Oscar Piastri are all expected to be present.
However, De Telegraaf reported that Verstappen has had to withdraw because he is struggling with the flu.
He is not the first world championship runner-up to skip the FIA's prize-giving event.
Back in 2021, Hamilton missed the gala after a controversial ending to that season's title fight.
Verstappen passed Hamilton on the final lap to clinch the championship, but there was controversy surrounding the circumstances of the safety car restart.
Both Hamilton and Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff chose not to attend the gala that year.
Hamilton's absence led to a $50,000 fine, which he later confirmed would go towards charitable causes.
He wrote: "There will be some sort of fine regarding the gala but we've worked together to make sure the money will be put towards youth from under-privileged backgrounds getting into motorsport."
The FIA also released a statement confirming Hamilton had met with FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
It read: "In the spirit of commitment to building a more diverse sport in the future, the FIA president gave his full support to Hamilton's decision to make a donation of €50,000 that will be used to support a student from a disadvantaged background in achieving an educational qualification in motorsport.
"During the meeting, the circumstances that led to Hamilton's absence from the 2021 FIA prize giving ceremony were also discussed."
The statement added that Hamilton "acknowledged the importance of celebrating the year's achievements with the prize winners from across motorsport and the FIA president reminded Hamilton of his obligation of sportsmanship, particularly in view of his status in motorsport."
The FIA has not yet confirmed whether Verstappen will face a fine for missing tonight's event.