Birthday dinner for F1 partners sets a harmonious tone ahead of title showdown
Oscar Piastri’s girlfriend, Lily Zneimer, hosted a birthday dinner in Abu Dhabi for several partners of Formula One competitors, creating an unexpectedly harmonious atmosphere as the championship battle looms at Yas Marina, reports BritPanorama.
Zneimer invited a select group of WAGs to a restaurant near the circuit, celebrating her special day by treating her guests with personalised watercolour portraits featuring their names, as well as a Christian Dior book — a generous gesture noted among the paddock.
The gathering included high-profile attendees such as Charles Leclerc’s fiancée, Alexandra Saint Mleux, Pierre Gasly’s partner, Kika Gomes, and Esteban Ocon’s girlfriend, Flavy Barla. Also present was Magui Corceiro, in a relationship with Piastri’s McLaren colleague and championship rival, Lando Norris. This presence was particularly striking given the close competition between the two McLaren drivers ahead of the decisive race.
With Norris leading the standings on 408 points, he holds a narrow 12-point advantage over Max Verstappen and a 16-point lead over Piastri. Owing to the potential permutations, either McLaren driver could emerge as the world champion following Sunday’s finale. Despite the competitive backdrop, the social atmosphere at the dinner appeared relaxed.
The on-track tension remains, however. When asked whether McLaren should implement team orders, such as instructing Piastri to allow Norris to overtake, the Briton dismissed the question, stating, “It hasn’t been discussed.”
While Norris expressed he would appreciate the gesture if the roles were reversed, he refrained from imposing such expectations: “It’s up to Oscar if he would allow it. I don’t think it’s necessarily down to me.” Piastri similarly noted, “It is not something we have discussed. Until I know what’s expected, I don’t have an answer.”
In this harmonious moment, the sight of Zneimer and Corceiro seated together suggests that the rivalry between their partners has yet to extend beyond the track. How that competitive spirit manifests after Sunday’s race remains an open question.
