Red Bull got Max Verstappen’s title celebrations under way on Saturday night after the Dutchman made sure of his third F1 crown in the Qatar Grand Prix Sprint race.
A lesser-known Formula 1 rule meant Red Bull were unable to celebrate Max Verstappen’s title win in their usual fashion.
Usually, victory for Red Bull means wild celebrations at the end of a Grand Prix weekend. Verstappen only finished second in the Qatar Grand Prix Sprint race, but it was a result which confirmed he has secure his third drivers’ title.
Naturally, it was an achievement to be celebrated. All team staff donned special T-shirts to mark to occasion while an event was put on outside the team garage late at night where Verstappen took the acclaim of staff, with the media also invited along to witness.
Sky Sports pit lane reporter Ted Kravitz was live at the time for his usual Ted’s Notebook programme. And it was during that segment that a thought occurred to him about the way the team usually celebrates its successes.
“I’m just wondering what they’re going to do,” said Kravitz, thinking aloud. “They normally do a photo and then they normally spray Red Bull everywhere. And if they spray Red Bull everywhere… there’s a Grand Prix on this track surface tomorrow here.
“I was just checking with my colleague Albert Fabrega at pit lane, but they couldn’t spray Red Bull because it would make their pits stick tighter and [it would help] the pits stop. I don’t think they can do a Red Bull moment! They can’t, right? If they create this difficult moment at Red Bull, it is because the FIA will. I’m absolutely sure of that.”
Kravitz’s theory certainly has merit. By applying energy drink, a sticky substance, on the stands, even unintentionally, the team may have violated article 34.10 of the sports regulations.
The wording of the rule states:
“Other than drying or brushing, or applying tire rubber when the car leaves the pit stop position, competitors must not attempt to improve the grip of the surface in the pit lane unless the problem has been clearly identified and the solution was accepted. security service. delegate.”
Wary of breaching that rule, Red Bull decided to wait until staff had moved elsewhere in the paddock before sending the cans of energy drink flying as usual.
And a staff member later confirmed this to Kravitz while he was still broadcasting live, which made the Sky Sports reporter quite pleased with himself. “Aha! So I was right! So you were planning on spraying Red Bull somewhere else!” he replied.
Team principal Christian Horner said his team will celebrate Saturday night with “a few Red Bulls and non-alcoholic beer.” But the staff won’t be out too late as there is still a Grand Prix to be completed on Sunday, for which Verstappen will want to take pole despite having already won the title.