Verstappen Takes Milestone Victory as Red Bull Ford Breaks Through
Red Bull achieved their first victory of the 2026 Formula 1 campaign, bringing an end to Mercedes’ early-season advantage. After entering the season significantly adrift of the front-running pace set by Mercedes, a succession of upgrade packages enabled the Milton Keynes squad to close the deficit. A week prior, Max Verstappen narrowly missed out on victory at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix by just 0.196 seconds. However, he rebounded by dominating qualifying in Malaysia to claim pole position before converting it into a hard-fought triumph over Kimi Antonelli and Lewis Hamilton despite falling behind in the race’s opening stages.
The triumph marks a significant technical achievement for the outfit, serving as Red Bull’s first win since transitioning to in-house engine manufacturing in partnership with Ford following the conclusion of their collaboration with Honda. Laurent Mekies highlighted the magnitude of the accomplishment, praising Verstappen’s performance as outstanding
and noting that it represents a milestone moment in the history
of the organization.
Laurent Mekies Praises Red Bull Ford Powertrains Milestone
Speaking after the race, Laurent Mekies detailed the collective effort required to bring the independent power unit project to the top step of the podium in its maiden competitive season.
This is another milestone moment in the history of this team: the first victory for us as a power unit manufacturer with Red Bull Ford Powertrains in its very first season,Mekies reflected.The credit goes to all the people involved who have been working incredibly hard on this project over the past five years. Everyone in Milton Keynes and at the track deserves this moment and should celebrate it as an important step towards many more victories in the future.
The first win of the season is a great way to finish what has been an extremely successful weekend overall. After showing strong pace in every session and securing our first pole position of the season [on Saturday], Max converted that performance into an outstanding P1.
In often chaotic circumstances, he remained in control throughout the race, managed the conditions brilliantly, showed the strongest pace and delivered exactly the kind of performance we know he is capable of.
More broadly, this result confirms the progress we have been making in recent months. We were already close several times, and today we converted that pace. The team has been working tirelessly to improve our package, and weekends like this are the reward for that effort.Advertisement
Mixed Emotions for Isack Hadjar After Technical Setback
While Verstappen celebrated on the top step, the garage faced mixed outcomes on the other side of the pit wall. Isack Hadjar produced an impressive recovery drive from eighth on the grid and looked positioned to deliver consecutive double podiums for Red Bull. However, a battery issue surfaced late in the running, dropping Hadjar down to a fifth-place finish.
There are naturally mixed feelings on the other side of the garage because Isack also showed very strong pace all weekend. We could have rounded off this weekend with another double podium; unfortunately, not everything went well with his car,Mekies explained.
Finishing fifth still represents a strong result considering where he started, but naturally it is frustrating when you know more was possible. We will analyse exactly what happened, take the positives from a weekend where both drivers were consistently competitive, and immediately turn our focus to Singapore.
However, everyone should enjoy a well-deserved victory and an important milestone for this team.
Why This Matters
Red Bull’s transition from a customer and partner team relying on external engine manufacturers to a fully fledged works operation under Red Bull Ford Powertrains represents one of the most ambitious engineering undertakings in modern Formula 1. Securing a race win in the partnership’s debut year provides early validation for the five-year development cycle invested at the Milton Keynes campus. Additionally, overcoming Mercedes’ early pace advantage demonstrates that Red Bull’s in-season aerodynamic and mechanical development remains potent as the championship moves forward to Singapore.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was this victory historic for Red Bull?
It marked the very first Grand Prix victory for Red Bull as an independent engine manufacturer under the Red Bull Ford Powertrains banner during its debut season, following their split from Honda.
Who did Max Verstappen battle for the race win?
After losing positions in the race’s early laps, Max Verstappen fought back to seal the victory against Mercedes drivers Kimi Antonelli and Lewis Hamilton.
What issue affected Isack Hadjar during the race?
Isack Hadjar fought his way into contention for a podium finish from eighth on the grid, but a battery problem forced him to settle for fifth place.
