Max Verstappen has a grand prix to win in Qatar today after securing his third Formula 1 championship yesterday but Red Bull team boss Christian Horner was adamant there was still time to party.
Verstappen clinched the title in a 19-lap standalone Saturday Sprint Race, the first time that has happened in Formula 1 with the format introduced in 2021. In doing so he became the youngest-ever F1 triple Champion, his name etched with F1 legends Niki Lauda, Ayrton Senna, Nelson Piquet, Jack Brabham and Jackie Stewart as three-time World Champs.
Sunday's Grand Prix remains weekend's big event but Red Bull have now won both the F1 Drivers' and Constructors' titles for the second year in a row and sixth time in their history and were in a mood to celebrate.
"It's unusual," Horner said of being in such a position on a Saturday. "But achieving a world championship is a most magical feeling and something that as a team you have to celebrate that moment, you have to be in the now.
"So tonight as a team we'll get together, a couple of Red Bulls and non-alcoholic beers, and then thankfully it's a late start tomorrow and we'll come back and try and do it all again in the grand prix," Horner added.
His driver, Verstappen said, with a smile, that he would be knocking back a few fizzy waters. Father Jos suggested he might be sampling something stronger.
Horner: The way Max has driven this year has just been out of this world
The race at Lusail today is at night under floodlights, starting at 8pm local time, so any mechanics who go for something stronger should have time to recover.
Notably, those on Sergio Perez's side of the garage will still have plenty of work to do, with the Mexican crashing out of the sprint race. The Mexican veteran was not very evident amid the team celebrations in the Lusail paddock.
Red Bull clinched the F1 constructors' championship in Japan two weeks ago, on a Sunday.
Savouring the celebrations around him, Horner said: "We're going to enjoy this moment and celebrate. There's not often you get days like today to celebrate this seventh drivers' world championship for the team and take a moment just to enjoy it."
As for the driver who did the business almost single-handedly for Red Bull, Horner said of Verstappen: "The way he has driven this year has just been out of this world. Everything he has done this year has been just phenomenal.
"He's the most competitive driver that I've ever met. He's up there with the very, very best. This season has just surpassed anything we have ever seen. We did a lot of winning with Sebastian [Vettel] but this has taken it to another level - and he's still just 26. I think he's still going to get better," warned Horner.
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