Max Verstappen praised Red Bull’s resilience through a tough start to 2026 after he delivered the team an “amazing” first win with its own engine at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.
Verstappen turned in a spectacular drive at Sepang, recovering from a poor start from pole position to pass Mercedes drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli on route to his 72nd career win with Red Bull.
It was the team’s first under the new V6 turbo hybrid regulations, which saw it stop buying engines from other manufacturers and build and compete with its own, built at its UK headquarters in Milton Keynes.
Verstappen said it felt like a landmark moment for the project.
“Of course, very special for us,” Verstappen said after Sunday’s race, which featured a rain delay, a farcical aborted start and then a chaotic race in changing conditions.
“I mean, we 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 and make it more driveable. Step by step, we’ve been getting closer and closer, and today, and of course especially this whole weekend, we’ve been really in good form. So, yeah, it’s amazing.
“Very, very enjoyable to win here and also have our first victory for our own engine. I mean, it’s an incredible project with a lot of partners and a lot of people that are dedicated to be where we are now. So, yeah, [a] fantastic feeling.”
TV footage showed Verstappen’s father Jos looking emotional after the victory during the podium ceremony.
Verstappen only just committed to a new Red Bull contract last month, but had delayed that decision as he pondered whether he wanted to stay in the sport.
The four-time world champion said his father and those close to him know how difficult this season has been behind the scenes.
“We’re all very much invested in it,” Verstappen said. “And, of course, you know, 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 every race, but when he is there, we talk a lot about everything. He knows everything.
“And, yeah, also for him, I guess the beginning of the season was not nice to watch, 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 really took the car and just really tried to fix the issues that we had, and then deliver something like this, it’s amazing. And 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 also everyone is super happy that we finally delivered a result like this.”
Verstappen’s victory means he now has won a race in each of the last 10 seasons -- only the two drivers ahead of him on the all-time winners’ list, Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton, have done the same.
