Max Verstappen Misses FIA Gala Due to Illness
Max Verstappen will not attend the 2025 FIA Prize Giving Gala in Tashkent after withdrawing due to illness. The Red Bull driver, who finished second in the championship, misses the ceremony where he was to collect the runner-up trophy, breaking a streak of four appearances as champion. His absence coincides with a period of change for Red Bull following Helmut Marko's retirement.
Max Verstappen will be absent from the FIA Prize Giving Gala in Tashkent, having withdrawn due to illness. The Red Bull driver was scheduled to receive the trophy for finishing second in the 2025 World Championship, marking a break from his recent run of attending as the reigning champion.
Why it matters:
Verstappen's absence is notable within the F1 community, as the reigning champion—or in this case, the runner-up—is a central figure at the annual ceremony. His non-attendance, combined with the recent seismic shift of Helmut Marko's retirement from Red Bull, underscores a period of significant change for the driver and his team following a season where he narrowly missed the title.
The details:
- Verstappen was set to make his fifth consecutive appearance at the FIA Gala, having attended the previous four as the World Champion. This year, he would have accepted the trophy for P2 in the standings.
- His withdrawal means he will not formally receive the silver trophy in person, following a season finale in Abu Dhabi where he finished just two points behind champion Lando Norris despite winning the race.
- The timing of his absence adds to a transitional atmosphere for Red Bull at the event, coming amidst the internal upheaval caused by long-time advisor Helmut Marko's departure from the team.
Between the lines:
Beyond the gala, Verstappen has received positive news regarding a personal milestone for 2026. The four-time champion has long expressed a desire to race with his favorite number, 3. Regulations typically require a two-year waiting period after a number becomes inactive, but an early switch could be possible. If the current holder of the number, Daniel Ricciardo—Verstappen's former teammate—officially relinquishes it, Verstappen could adopt the number 3 as soon as next season. This potential change is seen in the paddock as a symbolic fresh start for the driver after a year that ended without the championship, despite securing eight Grand Prix victories.