FIA Prize Giving Ceremony 2021 will be held in Paris on December 16, 2021, at 8 pm local time. It looks like the Formula One Constructors’ Champions Mercedes AMG Petronas Team might not be attending the gala. Mercedes have filed an intention to appeal the last lap decision at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Red Bull driver and World champion Max Verstappen passed Lewis Hamilton on the last lap of the race after the safety car restart.

The German team felt that the FIA and the stewards robbed of the driver’s title from them. But if Lewis Hamilton doesn’t attend the gala in Paris, FIA might give him a huge fine.

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Lewis Hamilton could be fined for skipping the FIA Gala

As reported by The Sun, it is mandatory for the top three drivers in the Formula One world championship to attend the gala. So, we expect Max Verstappen and Valtteri Bottas to attend the ceremony in Paris. But there have been no reports of whether the ‘newly knighted’ Sir Lewis Hamilton will attend or not.

According to Article 6.6, ” The drivers finishing first, second and third in the Championship must be present at the annual FIA Prize Giving ceremony. Last night Merc were unable to confirm or deny Hamilton’s attendance at the end-of-season showpiece.” said the FIA.

Mercedes have until 7 pm on 16 December to inform about the presence of Hamilton at the gala.

Mercedes also skipped the event yesterday when the 2021 championship-winning W12 was not present at the traditional prize-giving gala photoshoot. Missing the gala could spark a lot of fines for the German champions as they have not yet decided whether they will appeal.

The deadline to make their decision will be before the beginning of the event. It is anybody’s guess on what would the world champions decide before the event.

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