Featured Image Credit: Instagram / F1
Topics: Formula 1
Ryan Smart
Sauber driver Valtteri Bottas has left fans shocked after revealing the rough amount F1 stars spent at their end-of-season dinner.
The annual tradition among the drivers was held in Abu Dhabi on Thursday evening, with all bar three of the drivers attending.
It was organised by Lewis Hamilton and paid for in full by Bottas, who is leaving F1 - at least for the 2025 season - after 12 years in the sport following the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
It is usually tradition for the most senior outgoing driver to cover the costs of the dinner, meaning it was up to Bottas to cover the bill.
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The Finn was approached by a member of the official F1 media team in the Yas Marina paddock, where he was asked to confirm whether he had paid for the dinner.
Bottas stated that he did, and said that it costs him around 20,000 in local money.
Overall, according to the F1 account, that equates to around £5,175 - meaning it was an expensive, but perhaps not as expensive as you might think, dinner for the 17 drivers that were in attendance.
One of the main talking points of the event among fans was the presence of Max Verstappen and George Russell following their ongoing feud that began at the Qatar Grand Prix.
Both drivers were at the dinner, but sat on opposite sides of the table.
Lando Norris made light of that fact on Instagram, re-posting an image of the drivers alongside the caption: "Yes, the two you're thinking about were sat as far away from each other as possible."
There was less drama surrounding Bottas, who will hope to end on a high note with Sauber after failing to collect a point during the 2024 season.
The Finn has been driving an uncompetitive car throughout the season, but team-mate Zhou Guanyu finished eighth in Qatar in what is an improved package, leaving hope for his team-mate that he too can score in Abu Dhabi.