For some years now it has been the custom of winning or leaving drivers to spin some doughnuts after finishing the last race in Abu Dhabi. Mercedes teammates Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas did the same last weekend, but Max Verstappen had already parked his car then.

Due to the strict engine regulations that require teams to be very careful with their equipment during the season, burn-outs and donuts have become rather rare in recent years. The end of the season is the only moment when the drivers can get away from it all. As a kind of thank you to the fans.

Red Bull Racing forgetful

In Abu Dhabi, there were apparently agreements between Mercedes, Red Bull Racing and the FIA that the top three of 2020 would do this together afterwards. But Red Bull probably forgot to tell Verstappen in the euphoria of winning the race.

That is the conclusion James Vowles comes to in the Mercedes debrief. "Verstappen was not there and I asked Red Bull why and I think it was just a miscommunication. They forgot abou tit and that's why Verstappen didn't drive to the grid".