Saturday’s Malaysian Grand Prix saw Max Verstappen claim pole position, leaving the rest of the field questioning what changed at Red Bull. At Sepang, where the track has returned to Formula 1 for the first time since 2017, the Dutch driver was the clear leader during both practice and qualifying sessions. It is worth noting that his current machine was once almost half a second behind the pace set by Mercedes.
A man who came within two points of winning a fifth world title last year after one of the all-time great fightbacks has claimed pole position. Verstappen now arrives in Malaysia on the back of three consecutive podium finishes, and Red Bull hope to prove out an upgrade that saw them finish close to victory in Baku last Sunday.
The Upgrade That Closed The Gap
Red Bull started the year off the pace. The car was on average slower than Mercedes in the first half of the year. There were questions about whether Verstappen would stick around for 2027, especially after he was courted by McLaren.
Verstappen committed to the team for another two years during the mid-season break, stating his faith in the Red Bull project and his willingness to put in the effort needed to fix the situation. The core of the recovery effort is a new floor, and it has clearly delivered results under the hot conditions of Malaysia.
“It’s been an incredible result for us,” Verstappen said. “Looking at the season, how it started for us and the progression that we have made. At some tracks we were kind of close, but now I think this weekend it was very positive for us.”
Hadjar’s Return
Isack Hadjar, who sat out the opening three races following the mid-season pause because a wrist was broken during boxing as part of his training, has said the car felt transformed when he got back behind the wheel in Baku last weekend.
The Frenchman qualified third but will start eighth after a grid penalty for exceeding his permitted number of engine parts, “I jumped in a car that’s way better than when I left it in Budapest,” said.
“Definitely, when you step out actually for three races and you come back, you actually notice a bigger difference. And the last two weekends have been surprising.”
Hamilton’s Mindset
Lewis Hamilton, who will start from his equal best grid position of the year in second place, admits he is worried that Verstappen will be hard to beat in Sunday’s Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. The pair join each other on the front row, bringing back memories of their no-holds-barred title fight from five years ago.
But at nearly 0.3 seconds slower in qualifying, and with the pace Verstappen has shown all weekend, Hamilton’s mindset on Saturday was to “just try my best to hold on to him tomorrow”.
Mercedes’ Uncertainty
Mercedes’ larger issue concerns the aerodynamic upgrade they brought to the car this weekend. The team has trailed their rivals in developing their car this season, and they arrived in Malaysia with a package designed to close the gap.
The first major update since the Canadian Grand Prix in June has yet to show the improvement the team had hoped for. It is unclear if the issue lies with the parts themselves or with the particular circumstances of this weekend: the heat, the harsh track surface, and the punishing conditions that are testing the tyres heavily, cutting into the number of useful laps teams can complete for set-up work.
Kimi Antonelli, the championship leader, came up short in qualifying due to a mix of an uncommon tyre strategy and a mistake on an early lap. His fourth position moves up to third on the grid after Hadjar’s penalty, and he tends to play a part in the race whenever he starts from the front row.
The Race Ahead
“With this new package, obviously the window of the way the car operates is different. So, we’re trying to understand in which window the car performance is best, in the high-speed corner and low-speed corners.” is what Antonelli said.
“Our high-speed performance has been very strong this weekend. We were very quick in the high-speed, but in the low-speed we lacked. So, we need to understand why and try to move on and improve.”
As for the race, Antonelli said: “Track position is going to be very important. Strategy is going to be really important.”
“It’s a race where we will attack. Because undercut (stopping first and gaining time on a rival on fresh tyres) is incredibly powerful.”
“So whenever there’s an opportunity, we should go for maybe an undercut and try to maximise our opportunity.”
“Tomorrow might be two stops, three stops. We don’t know. But the only thing we know is that it’s going to be roasting hot out there.”
What To Watch For
In the intense heat, tyre wear will be the decisive factor, regardless of whether the predicted rain materialises or not. With a strong setup, Verstappen is well positioned to manage that difficulty.
One place to find a challenge for Verstappen is Hamilton, while Antonelli can typically be counted on to play a significant role in the race too.
The primary goal for Antonelli is gaining an edge over his team-mate George Russell, who sits 66 points behind him and lines up four grid positions lower. Russell’s momentum from his Baku win has slowed, and he remains puzzled about his and his team’s missing pace.
The Verdict
The uncertainty surrounding Verstappen’s pole in Malaysia follows a run of upgrades that closed a gap to Mercedes, and the contrast between his confidence and Mercedes’ is a pleasant matter to consider. The upgrade has proven itself in the tropical heat of Malaysia, around the demanding long corners of this track with perhaps the roughest surface of the season.
This weekend’s race is a trial of all the lessons the teams have picked up so far, and the heat levels will flatten any advantage. Verstappen holds the machine, the speed, and the self-assurance. Every competitor on the grid will need to come up with a plan for passing him.
Key Facts Box
- Verstappen secured pole position for the race in Malaysia
- The Red Bull car trailed Mercedes by almost half a second earlier in the year
- Verstappen committed to Red Bull for another two years over the summer break
- The team finished close to victory in Baku despite being slower earlier in the year
- Mercedes’ first major update since the Canadian Grand Prix in June has not yet shown hoped-for gains
- Kimi Antonelli leads the championship by 66 points over George Russell
- Hamilton starts from his equal best grid position of the year in second place
- Hadjar’s grid penalty moves Antonelli up to third on the starting grid
Source material: “'Incredible' Red Bull upgrade enlivens F1 in Malaysia,” the BBC.
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