Max Verstappen reveals surprise payment by former Red Bull team-mate

On the track, the 20 F1 drivers are each other's biggest rivals. Off it, most get along well, to such an extent that at the end of the year, almost all head out for what has become a traditional dinner together ahead of the final race in Abu Dhabi.

Understandably, it results in a significantly expensive bill, raising the question of who should pay.

It would appear that four-time F1 champion Verstappen should have stepped forward earlier this month as the drivers gathered before the title-deciding showdown at the Yas Marina Circuit.

Instead, it was Alpine driver, and Verstappen's former Red Bull team-mate, Pierre Gasly, who generously picked up the tab. But why?

"Well, I'll tell you," ventured Verstappen in the Talking Bull podcast. "Last year, Valtteri [Bottas] was very nice. He paid the bill.

"The drivers then made some jokes, 'This year it's Max's turn'. And I said, 'Yes, of course'.

"But I was sitting on the other side of the entrance to the private room. Most of the evening, you're sitting around having a good laugh, and then suddenly, people want to leave.

"Then we realised Pierre had already paid for dinner."

Verstappen dismisses toilet humour

When jokingly asked if he had headed to the toilet when the bill came, the Dutchman smiled and replied: "No. I drank my gin and tonics on the other side.

"I think next time, before I come in, I should say, 'I'll pay the bill at the end of the evening', so I can finally actually pay."

Should Verstappen get the chance to pay one day, will he opt for just tap water and a set menu? "No, normally I'm very generous with this kind of thing. I just haven't been able to pay yet.

"But I'm sure we'll eat again next year, so I'll get there eventually."

As to whether the drivers should all throw their credit cards in the middle of the table, and let the waiter grab one, he said: "I remember that happening once when I was just starting out, in 2015 or 2016.

"That looks a little bad, so it's better if one person commits to it.

"And you don't make a rookie pay, as a matter of course. That's pretty obvious. I think it always starts with the more experienced drivers."