Max Verstappen crossed the line at Sepang to claim his 72nd Formula 1 victory, the first win for Red Bull’s in‑house power unit, the DM01, developed alongside Ford.
With the win, Verstappen also doubled down on the achievements that have defined his career this decade, noting that the mindset he applied in 2017—where a winless season loomed—was reshaped by the experience he has gained across four world championship titles.
Red Bull faced a steep learning curve at the start of the current regulation cycle. The team’s chassis package struggled to match its competitive combustion engine, leaving a respectable 2025 “deep hole” that kept the car uncompetitive against rivals such as Alpine and Haas during early races.
Team‑work proved decisive. After persistent upgrades—including a pivotal Baku package that improved both outright pace and driver confidence—Red Bull merged its engineering efforts, developing a car that delivers better handling, which Verstappen praised as the key to unlocking his full potential on the track.
Verstappen stressed that his appreciation for the victory is both personal and professional. “Seeing how the team worked relentlessly through problems and finally delivered a result like this is amazing,” he said, highlighting the shared sense of purpose that fuels morale across the squad.
Beyond the personal triumph, the win marks a historic milestone: it is the first race triumph for a team that has supplied engines to Formula 1 since Porsche’s 2003 debut, and the 177th for Ford as an engine supplier, together with Cosworth.
While Verstappen and Red Bull acknowledge unfulfilled frustration over technical regulations—a sentiment he has voiced throughout the season—they remain unmoved, focusing on competitive performance rather than policy disputes.
With this success, Verstappen positions himself to continue exploring the limits of the updated car, and Red Bull demonstrates that perseverance combined with engineering ingenuity can translate into podium‑ready performance amid regulatory upheaval.
"