Explained: Why is Max Verstappen not attending the FIA Awards Gala

Four-time F1 champion Max Verstappen will not be attending the 2025 FIA Award Ceremony set to take place in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on Friday, 12 December. According to the reports, the Dutchman is suffering from an illness and hence hasn't flown for the ceremony.

Max Verstappen was 104 points the championship leader after the Dutch GP and the dreams of challenging for the 2025 title seemed over. However, courtesy of new upgrades, the Dutchman was able to get within 12 points of Lando Norris going into the season finale. Although the Red Bull star won the race, he lost the title by two points and finished as the runner-up.

The Top 3 finishers of the F1 season are required to be present for the FIA Award Ceremony, who, for the 2025 season, were Lando Norris, Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri. As per De Telegraaf, the Dutchman called in sick as he's suffering from the flu, did not fly to Uzbekistan and will not be attending the ceremony.

This would be the first time in years that Verstappen will not be attending the FIA Award Gala. The Dutchman won four consecutive titles from 2021 to 2024 and was crowned the champion at the last four ceremonies, which took place in France, Italy, Azerbaijan, and Rwanda, respectively.

FIA Awards 2024 - Source: Getty

The Dutchman isn't the only runner-up to miss the FIA Gala in recent as Lewis Hamilton also decided to skip it in 2021 after a controversial ending to the season, where a late safety car and subsequent decision made by the stewards possibly changed the outcome. The seven-time F1 champion was fined €50,000 ($55,340 as per the exchange rate back then) by the FIA for not attending.

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Max Verstappen hails Red Bull Racing for the 2025 comeback despite losing the title

Max Verstappen was over 100 points behind Oscar Piastri after the Dutch GP. However, Red Bull brought a new upgrade to the Italian GP, which seemingly made the car drivable, and the Dutchman was able to push it for victories.

Even the race weekends where Red Bull and Verstappen had poor sessions, changes were made overnight to get the car in a good window, with the Brazilian GP comeback being a great example. Hailing the team for the comeback after a dismal first half, Max Verstappen said,

“I’m very proud of the whole team. We could have also very easily given up at that point, when you’re that far behind.” “We didn’t win the championship, okay, that happens, that’s life, and it’s not something that I’ll be too sad about. I mean, life goes on. I’m just very proud of the people I work with, they are my second family, and we will enjoy this moment. We will enjoy the second half of the season, be proud of that, and next year is going to be a big question mark for everyone anyway,” added Verstappen

Norris became the 35th driver to win the F1 title, only the 13th Briton to accomplish the feat and most recent McLaren champion after Lewis Hamilton in 2008.

Edited by Pranay Bhagi