Max Verstappen to miss FIA prize-giving gala due to illness

Max Verstappen will be absent from the FIA's annual prize-giving gala in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, after falling ill following the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The Red Bull driver, who finished second in the 2026 championship, is reportedly suffering from the flu, forcing him to miss the event where the top three drivers are typically required to attend.

Why it matters:

The gala is a formal capstone to the Formula 1 season, celebrating the year's champions and honoring the top finishers. Verstappen's absence, while for a legitimate medical reason, marks an unusual end to a season where his historic run of consecutive titles was narrowly ended. It also means he will not be present to receive his trophy for finishing as runner-up to new champion Lando Norris.

The details:

• According to reports from Dutch media, Verstappen is unwell with the flu, contracted after the intense season finale in Abu Dhabi.
• While FIA sporting regulations mandate attendance for the top three drivers in the standings, exceptions are permitted for valid reasons such as illness.
• At the ceremony, Lando Norris will be formally crowned the 2026 Formula 1 World Champion, with Oscar Piastri also honored for his third-place finish.
• Verstappen has also been nominated for the F1 Action of the Year award for his dramatic opening-lap overtake on Piastri at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in Imola.

What's next:

With the formal season closure of the gala, the F1 world now turns fully toward the winter break and preparations for 2027. Verstappen's focus will be on recovery before Red Bull's off-season development program begins in earnest, as the team looks to rebound from a season that saw their long championship streak broken.