Max Verstappen Wins First Grand Prix Since 2025

Max Verstappen took victory in Malaysia on Sunday, securing his first Grand Prix win since December 2025.

Driving the news: Verstappen dominated both qualifying and the incident-packed race in Sepang to secure Red Bull Racing's return to the top step of the podium.

Catch up quickly:

• Red Bull Racing endured a difficult start in 2026 after introducing their own power units under revised regulations.
• Technical issues and a lack of overall speed initially left the team trailing behind Mercedes.
• A major car upgrade introduced by team boss Laurent Mekies in Baku helped Verstappen finish within 0.19 seconds of George Russell.

What they said: Analyst Jeroen Bleekemolen noted that Verstappen adapted well to low grip in Sepang, adding that teammate Isack Hadjar also performed respectably. Driver Richard Verschoor cautioned that form fluctuates by track, observing that Mercedes brought seven upgrades to Malaysia without gaining any speed.

What is next: Verschoor highlighted that upcoming circuits in Mexico and Brazil suit Verstappen, though Bleekemolen cautioned that McLaren could quickly recover from their poor Malaysian showing.

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