Key Highlights:
- Max Verstappen secured his 72nd Formula 1 career victory at the Sepang International Circuit, halting Red Bull Racing’s winless start to the season.
- The victory marks the first-ever win for Red Bull’s in-house power unit, the DM01, developed in collaboration with technical and commercial partner Ford.
- Significant chassis developments, culminating in Red Bull’s final major package introduced in Baku, overcame early-season handling struggles that had previously left the squad battling midfield competitors.
“72, mate! 72!”
, Verstappen said over the team radio immediately after crossing the finish line at the Sepang International Circuit. While the message acknowledged the Dutchman reaching 72 career Grand Prix triumphs, the win carried distinct emotional weight compared to many of his previous accomplishments. Paralleling his 2017 victory in Malaysia, which similarly averted a winless campaign nine years ago, the latest triumph at Sepang underscored a resilient turnaround following a grueling start to a new technical regulatory era.
Despite the historic echo, Max Verstappen emphasized how his personal perspective has shifted since that earlier triumph, shaped largely by capturing four Formula 1 World Championships. Speaking about his evolved mindset, Verstappen noted: “It is different now compared to before 2021. Of course, I have won the championship four times by now and taken many victories. I think that means you approach things slightly differently.
“When the opportunity is there, of course you always go for it fully, but with a little less risk than back then. I can put everything into perspective a bit better now.”
Overcoming Red Bull’s Early-Season Crisis
The Malaysian victory carries profound significance due to the competitive deficit Red Bull Racing faced during the opening stages of the current regulatory cycle. While the internal combustion engine of their new power unit displayed immediate competitiveness, the chassis package was severely sub-par out of the gate. Across early rounds in China and Japan, Red Bull unexpectedly slipped into the midfield order, battling wheel-to-wheel with competitors such as Alpine and Haas rather than contesting the front positions expected of an elite organization.
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Red Bull worked relentlessly to reverse the deficit. Addressing the team’s recovery, Verstappen explained: “We’ve had a very complicated and tough start to the year with all sorts of problems and just not being competitive enough. But throughout the year, the team has been working very hard to understand our issues and bring good performance upgrades to the car to make it more driveable.”
The pivotal turning point arrived via Red Bull’s final major aerodynamic and mechanical update of the season, introduced in Baku. The upgrade resolved fundamental balance deficiencies, enabling Verstappen to extract limit-handling performance—a transformation highlighted by his pole lap at Sepang. “Step by step, we’ve been getting closer and closer, and especially this weekend, we’ve been really in good form. So, yeah, it’s amazing,”
he reflected.
Reflecting on the internal culture that fostered the recovery, Verstappen added: “I guess the beginning of the season was not nice to watch, and for me being in the car, it was not nice to drive either. But then seeing how the team progressed and basically never stopped working trying to fix the issues that we had, and then to deliver something like this, it’s amazing.
“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. 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.”
Despite his satisfaction with the team’s resurgence, Verstappen underlined that his standing critique of the wider Formula 1 technical regulations remains independent of on-track results: “Yes, that has nothing to do with whether I’m first, sixth or 10th. Those are two separate things”
, Verstappen clarified.
Historic First Win for Red Bull Ford Powertrains
Beyond the championship points, the Sepang victory stands as a historic milestone for Milton Keynes: it marks Red Bull’s first victory as an independent engine manufacturer utilizing its own DM01 power unit, produced in partnership with Ford. “Of course, to win a race in the first year of being a new power unit manufacturer is honestly incredible and something everyone should be really proud of”
, Verstappen said. “We knew from the start that Red Bull Ford Powertrains built a strong engine, but we also knew the limitations. Although it was hard at times, and we sometimes didn’t believe we could get this win, we kept pushing.”
The triumph delivers the ultimate validation for the long-term engine division established by Christian Horner and Helmut Marko. Following the breakdown of initial negotiations with Porsche, Red Bull secured a commercial and technical agreement with Ford. The Sepang win represents Ford’s first Formula 1 victory since the 2003 Brazilian Grand Prix, while marking the 177th win for the American manufacturer—combining historic statistics with Cosworth—in Grand Prix history.
Why This Matters
Transitioning from a customer or works-partner chassis constructor into an independent engine manufacturer is among the costliest and most complex undertakings in modern motorsport. By steering the DM01 power unit to victory in its maiden campaign, Red Bull Ford Powertrains has verified its viability against established original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Furthermore, proving that development updates can rescue a fundamentally flawed chassis mid-season provides Red Bull with crucial technical momentum as the development curve steepens across future championship campaigns.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Formula 1 wins does Max Verstappen currently have?
Max Verstappen has accumulated 72 Grand Prix victories, reaching the milestone with his win at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia.
What makes this victory historic for Red Bull and Ford?
This is Red Bull’s first Formula 1 victory as a dedicated power unit manufacturer, running their in-house DM01 engine. For Ford, it marks their first F1 victory since the 2003 Brazilian Grand Prix and their 177th win as an engine partner overall.
What key upgrades helped Red Bull recover performance?
Following handling and drivability problems in China and Japan, Red Bull’s crucial turning point came courtesy of their final major package introduced in Baku, which stabilized the car’s balance and allowed Verstappen to push to the limit on his way to pole and victory at Sepang.
