F1 fans spark chaos and launch bottles of prosecco in Abu Dhabi brawl
A group of F1 fans were embroiled in a fight at a trackside party following the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday.
Footage emerged online on Sunday night of a group of fans brawling at an after-party at the W Abu Dhabi hotel which overlooks the Yas Marina Circuit, opposite the marina between turns 11 and 12 of the track.
A video shared on X, formerly Twitter, shows a man in a white t-shirt repeatedly punching and throwing items at a man in a blue and white jacket.
In different videos posted online, other fans appear to fight and launch bottles of prosecco before security steps in. It is unclear what provoked the brawl, which took place with “All of the Lights” by Kanye West blaring through the speakers.
F1 said in a statement to The Independent that the incident took place “outside of the jurisdiction of our event security” and “outside of the Grand Prix event itself”.
The W Abu Dhabi hotel has been approached for comment.
It is not the first time this season that F1 fans have brawled at a race this season. A supporter was banned for life from Formula 1 races after attacking two Ferrari fans at the Mexico City Grand Prix last month.
The scrap in the stands followed Sergio Perez having to retire from his home race in front of a gutted Mexican crowd.
The Red Bull driver collided with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc on lap one of the race, spinning off track and sustaining irreparable damage to the floor of his car.
Later, footage emerged online of fighting in the Foro Sol Stadium grandstand, with one spectator throwing punches at two fans dressed in red, the colours of Ferrari.
The spectator was then put into a chokehold by another fan, before being ejected from the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez circuit by security.
Max Verstappen won Sunday’s season-finale in Abu Dhabi for a record-extending 19th win of the season.
