drivers came together for a group dinner hosted by the sport’s CEO
Stefano Domenicali at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, ahead of this
weekend’s Austrian Grand Prix. The dinner, which Domenicali
organises, has become a regular part of the Austrian Grand Prix
weekend during his tenure as F1’s chief executive. What began as
an informal initiative has gradually become one of the more notable
off-track gatherings of the calendar, with the full grid in
attendance once again. While the evening is primarily a social
occasion, previous editions have also touched on sporting matters.
Domenicali has used the relaxed setting in the past to discuss
topics with drivers, including format changes such as the sprint
race concept. This year’s gathering brought together a grid
spanning generations, from 44-year-old Fernando Alonso and
41-year-old Lewis Hamilton through to 18-year-old Arvid Lindblad,
the youngest driver on the 2026 grid. The table had to be set for
two extra names this year, as the grid welcomed an 11th team in
Cadillac, with its drivers Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas joining
the meal. With track action beginning on Friday, the dinner offered
a quiet moment before racing at the Red Bull Ring gets underway.