KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - OCTOBER 04: Race winner Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red

Can Red Bull keep up their momentum after Verstappen’s Sepang win?

Former F1 DriverJolyon Palmer

Max Verstappen finally netted a 2026 victory with a dominant drive in Sepang. With the way that he’s been driving this year it seemed inevitable that the Dutchman would hit the top step at some point this season, but I didn’t expect it to come in as dominant fashion as we eventually saw.

Max had such a stranglehold on Qualifying, topping each part of it before posting two laps good enough for pole. His dominance on Saturday was enough that some of his nearest competitors at the front expected him to runaway and hide in the Grand Prix.

This performance begs the question: where has Red Bull’s pace come from?