Lewis Hamilton is said to have insisted on paying the bill after organising a fitting farewell dinner for Sebastian Vettel.
The German driver will race in Formula 1 for the final time at this weekend's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The four-time world champion announced earlier in the season that this would be his last, so he can spend more time with his young family and focus on other passions.
Few figures in the paddock are more popular than Vettel. In recent years, he has been a vocal advocate for the welfare and safety of his fellow drivers, and has led by example in terms of using his platform to highlight social issues and injustices.
To say goodbye, all 20 drivers met in Abu Dhabi on Thursday night to have dinner and raise a glass to Vettel. And there were smiles all around as they posed for a very rare photograph of all 20 F1 drivers together on a social occasion.
Grand Prix Drivers' Association chair Alexander Wurz shared that photo on social media, and revealed it had been Hamilton's idea. "Thanks @LewisHamilton to initiate, and thanks all GDPA members to turn up to show respect to one of the greatest, to one of our directors, and ultimately to our sport (which Sebastian Vettel loves so much).
Adding to that, BBC Sport's chief F1 writer Andrew Benson later said the Brit had also put his hand in his pocket to pay for everyone's food and drinks. He wrote: "This end-of-season Formula 1 driver get-together was originally Lewis Hamilton's suggestion, I'm told, and he picked up the bill. And they all had as good a time as it looks they did."
A photograph of a bill was later shared on social media, which claimed to be from the F1 drivers' party and came to a whopping final bill of £140,000. The receipt was posted by restauranteur Salt Bae, and it is unconfirmed as to whether or not it is the correct bill – though the date and times do make it possible.
Hamilton has previously made it clear he will be gutted to see Vettel go. "It is going to be sad to see him leave," said the Brit. "It has been an unexpected relationship and friendship. It is so difficult when you are so competitive and you are both fighting for something you are passionate about.
"Out of all the drivers that I've raced with, Seb was the first one to stand by me and take the knee with me. He is the first one to go out of his way to fight for things he cares about. I don't believe I've seen any driver in the history of the sport do what he and I have been doing in terms of utilising the platform, being outspoken and taking that risk. I really see him as an ally."
