Red Bull mechanics would prefer Verstappen's title on Sunday

Utter joy at Red Bull Racing after winning the 2023 F1 constructors' title. At the next race in Qatar, Max Verstappen could claim the drivers' title. The mechanics jokingly hope the Dutchman does not already do it on the Saturday of the sprint race. After all, there won't be time to party then.

The Qatar Grand Prix has a sprint weekend on Saturday, and because Verstappen's three-point lead over teammate Sergio Perez means he already has the 2023 title in hand, the Dutchman can become this season's F1 champion on that very Saturday. That means the party should be moderate, as the main race still takes place on Sunday.

So Red Bull mechanics are hoping the title is 'not in until Sunday' and are letting Verstappen know that. After the end of the race in Japan, which Verstappen won brilliantly, the Dutchman speaks to his teammates at the crowd gates. The camera caught the conversation. Verstappen: "That was already one [title], next week the other one."

An enthusiastic Red Bull mechanic remarks: "Please, not in the sprint race." Verstappen is startled and does not know what he hears: "Why not?" the Dutchman asks with a playfully pedantic finger in the mechanic's direction. The mechanic is brief in his explanation: "[On Saturday] we can't get drunk." Verstappen and the team members burst into laughter and Verstappen says before walking away, "On Sunday you just put sunglasses on."