Key Highlights
- Max Verstappen secured his first victory of the 2026 Formula 1 season at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, marking the inaugural race win for Red Bull’s in-house power unit program.
- The four-time world champion opened up about his father Jos Verstappen’s emotional response and the behind-the-scenes effort required to rebound from difficult early-season car performance.
- Following the victory and a previous double podium in Azerbaijan, Verstappen sits sixth in the drivers’ championship, tied at 188 points with Lando Norris.
Max Verstappen Reflects on Milestone Victory and Father Jos’s Reaction
Four-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen has opened up about the deeply emotional reaction of his father, Jos Verstappen, after securing his first grand prix win of the 2026 season. The triumph at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia carried historic significance for the Milton Keynes-based squad, representing the very first grand prix victory powered by Red Bull’s proprietary power unit project.
Speaking to the media during the post-race press conference following the event, the Dutch driver addressed the personal weight of the milestone and the bond he shares with his father as they navigate the sport together.
We’re all very much invested in it,
Verstappen stated regarding his father’s visible emotion. And, of course, my relationship with my dad, we really understand each other well from all the years that we have spent together working towards our goal in Formula 1.
So he’s still there in the background. He’s not coming to every race, but when he is there, we talk a lot about everything. He knows everything. Also for him, I guess the beginning of the season was not nice to watch.
Overcoming Early-Season Challenges and Building Momentum
The journey to the top step of the podium in 2026 was far from effortless for Red Bull Racing. Early rounds presented substantial drivability hurdles, demanding an aggressive technical response from the engineering personnel and Team Principal Laurent Mekies.
As for me, being in the car was not nice to drive. But then seeing how the team progressed and basically never really stopped working and took the car and really tried to fix the issues that we had, and then deliver something like this, it’s amazing,
Verstappen explained.
Highlighting the unified garage culture, Verstappen added: Also with the people involved, honestly, the spirit in the team is very good. Everyone is on the same line and we really understand each other well. So it’s very enjoyable to work in the team and that’s why I think everyone is super happy that we finally delivered a result like this.
The triumph follows a resurgent run of form for Red Bull Racing. Just one round prior at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, the team celebrated a strong double podium finish with Verstappen claiming second place and rookie team-mate Isack Hadjar securing third. In Malaysia, Hadjar backed up Verstappen’s chaotic race win with a solid fifth-place finish, cementing valuable points for the constructors’ ledger.
Why This Matters
Red Bull’s victory marks a critical technical breakthrough for the organization following the transition to its independent power unit project. Delivering a race win validates the extensive engineering investment made by the team to become a fully self-reliant constructor. Furthermore, the turnaround reshapes the 2026 championship fight: the win moves Verstappen into sixth place in the drivers’ standings, dead level on 188 points with fifth-placed McLaren driver Lando Norris, putting Red Bull firmly back in contention among the front-runners after a turbulent start to the campaign.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the Bahrain Grand Prix victory in Malaysia significant for Red Bull?
Beyond being Max Verstappen’s first win of the 2026 Formula 1 season, the victory represented the maiden grand prix triumph for Red Bull’s proprietary power unit program, proving the competitive viability of their in-house engine operation.
How does the victory affect the 2026 Drivers’ Championship standings?
The victory lifts Max Verstappen to sixth place in the championship standings, where he is currently tied on 188 points with fifth-placed Lando Norris.
How did Red Bull team-mate Isack Hadjar perform?
Isack Hadjar delivered a strong performance by finishing in fifth position, backing up his maiden podium from the previous race weekend at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where he finished third behind Verstappen.
