Lewis Hamilton picks up Formula 1 dinner bill despite hidden rule ahead of Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton once again broke tradition as he joined his fellow Formula 1 drivers for their annual end of season dinner.

The seven-time world champion arranged the meal at Zuma in Abu Dhabi ahead of the final race of the year.

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This season’s Drivers’ Championship is set to be decided at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday.

However, 17 of the 20 drivers on the grid headed out for dinner on Thursday night to relax before first practice.

Hamilton is said to have taken charge of this year’s meal, as revealed by his former team-mate George Russell.

In a video shared by Mercedes, the Brit explained that his compatriot had ordered everything on the menu.

Lew and behold

Russell said: “Lewis was in charge of the order and he literally ordered everything. Everything possible on the menu.”

Esteban Ocon also revealed that Hamilton had organised the dinner, having covered the bill once again 12 months ago.

Thanking the F1 legend on Instagram, Ocon wrote: “Tradition. Thanks again @lewishamilton!”

Hamilton has covered the bill every year since Sebastian Vettel’s farewell dinner in 2022.

It is a move which breaks an unwritten rule amongst F1 drivers when it comes to their annual gettogether.

Traditionally, the reigning world champion pays for the meal, which would have seen Max Verstappen pick up the bill.

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The Dutch driver won his fourth consecutive Drivers’ Championship last year.

Nico Rosberg previously explained the hidden rule after several drivers went out for dinner ahead of the 2016 Chinese Grand Prix.

The group had attended an Italian restaurant called The Kitchen in Shanghai during the race week.

However, when it came to paying, the bill was split 18 ways between all the drivers present.

At the time, Hamilton admitted: “It was a little bit silly really, ridiculous because someone said, ‘Let’s share the bill,’ so 18 drivers shared a bill which is just insane.

“It probably wasn’t really that expensive. I did say, ‘Why don’t I just get it now, or two of us get it now, and then the next time someone else gets it?’ And they are like, ‘No, no, no. I want to pay individually.’

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“We all got a receipt, 18 receipts, 18 credit cards, it was the most ridiculous thing I have ever seen. I have never seen anything like that before.”

When asked who had suggested that approach, he added: “I am pretty sure it was Nico.”

Rosberg had Hamilton’s version of events put to him, prompting him to respond: “Really? Interesting.

“From what I can remember, the hidden agreement usually is that the world champion pays, but that might just be my opinion.”

Hamilton had been the defending champion at the time after his title triumph in 2015.

A first-time world champion could be crowned in the United Arab Emirates this weekend.

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The final race of the season will see three drivers battle it out for top spot come the end of the race.

Lando Norris heads into Sunday with a 12-point lead over Verstappen following last week’s Qatar Grand Prix.

Meanwhile, his McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri can also still clinch the title.

The Australian is a further four points back in third place in the standings.