WATCH: Max Verstappen gives Valtteri Bottas an art book filled with the Sauber drivers’ na*ed pictures as a Christmas present 

The F1 Secret Santa saw many hilarious gags come into play, giving drivers liberity to gift as they pleased.

WATCH: Max Verstappen gives Valtteri Bottas an art book filled with the Sauber drivers’ na*ed pictures as a Christmas present 

Max Verstappen and Valtteri Bottas (Via IMAGO)

The Formula One tradition of Secret Santa presents is a relatively new event that occurs every year around the time of Christmas. All 20 drivers on the grid participate in the event where they pick a random other driver on the grid and pick and choose a gift for them. 

Valtteri Bottas was pleasantly surprised with his gift when he opened the wrapper to reveal a book. Having posed nude for a calendar for a charitable cause, the trend continued into Bottas’s Christmas present, as the book contained Bottas’s pictures plastered over art on every page. The mastermind behind the gift turned out to be 2023 runaway champion Max Verstappen.

Valtteri himself did not give an entirely standard gift either, presenting Carlos Sainz with pink underwear with chili emojis all over it. Bottas also included a wide assortment of chili sauces, which his Spanish colleague appreciated.

FS Video

Daniel Ricciardo tells Oscar Piastri about his Secret Santa role before the gift-opening

All drivers except Lewis Hamilton showed up for the friendly Secret Santa event held by F1, where all 19 drivers exchanged gifts. The drivers found creative and heartwarming ways to spread the Christmas cheer. 

Daniel Ricciardo
Daniel Ricciardo (Credits: Autosport)

Secret Santa aims to keep your identity anonymous up until the gift has been opened, something that Daniel Ricciardo failed to do. The Australian admitted ahead of the event to his compatriot Oscar Piastri that he had gifted the 22-year-old Koala merchandise and other gifts. 

The 2023 Secret Santa marks the fifth Secret Santa since Lewis Hamilton last made an appearance at the event, as the Briton has not been seen at the event since 2017. With all other drivers present on the grid, it’s unusual to see someone miss the event in its entirety, with Hamilton being the only one to boycott the event.

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