Max Verstappen has pulled out of a Formula 1 end-of-season event just days after narrowly missing out on a fifth successive world title.
Despite winning the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the Dutchman fell short, finishing two points behind McLaren's Lando Norris.
It was a remarkable comeback from Verstappen, who had been 104 points behind the championship leader after August's Dutch Grand Prix.
A run of five wins in eight races brought him back into contention, as both McLaren and Oscar Piastri faltered.
Advert
Although he missed out on another world title, Verstappen praised his team for their performances in the second half of the season.
The Dutchman had been expected at the FIA prize-giving gala on Friday evening, but he will now miss the event due to illness.
De Telegraaf reported that Verstappen is struggling with the flu.
The gala is traditionally attended by the top three drivers in the final world championship standings.
This year, that would have been Norris, Piastri and Verstappen in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
The event is particularly significant for Norris, who will receive the world championship trophy for the first time.
Although the Briton secured the title in Abu Dhabi, the trophy is only officially awarded at the gala several days later.
Verstappen will hand over the world championship trophy, but he has been nominated for the Action of the Year award, meaning he could still receive a prize.
He is not the first runner-up to skip the ceremony.
In 2021, Lewis Hamilton missed the gala after controversially losing the title to Verstappen and was fined £43,800 (€50,000).
Meanwhile, Mohammed Ben Sulayem has been controversially re-elected as the FIA President for a second four-year term.
He said: "Thank you to all our FIA Members for voting in remarkable numbers and placing your trust in me once again.
"We have overcome many obstacles but here today, together, we are stronger than ever.
"It is truly an honour to be FIA president, and I am committed to continuing to deliver for the FIA, for motorsport, for mobility, and for our Member Clubs in every region around the world."
Although he faced initial challenges, none of his rivals could run due to a rule requiring candidates to put together a team of seven vice-presidents from the FIA’s six global regions.
As per Autosport, Fabiana Ecclestone was the only eligible vice-president from South America and she backed Ben Sulayem.
Laura Villars has since taken legal action against the FIA over the process, with a Parisian court ruling on December 3 that a full trial would be needed.
That will take place on February 16 and the voiding of the presidential election is a potential outcome.
Topics: Max Verstappen, Formula 1, Lando Norris, FIA, Motorsport, Red Bull Racing
James Taylor