Verstappen opens up on father Jos's emotional reaction to first 2026 win in Malaysia

Max Verstappen reflected on the personal weight of his victory at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Sepang, Malaysia, describing how the milestone moved his father Jos and what it meant for the Red Bull project after a difficult start to the 2026 season.

Speaking at the post-race press conference, the four-time world champion was asked about his father’s visible emotional reaction and opened up about their close working relationship. “We’re all very much invested in it,” Verstappen said. “And, of course, 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.”

Jos Verstappen does not attend every race, but Max confirmed the two remain in close contact when he does make the trip. “When he is there, we talk a lot about everything. He knows everything. 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.”

Verstappen was candid about the struggles Red Bull faced in the early rounds of the 2026 campaign, making the eventual breakthrough all the more meaningful. “Seeing how the team progressed and basically never really stopped working and took the car and really tried to fix the issues that we had, and then deliver something like this, it’s amazing,” he said.

He also pointed to the atmosphere inside the team as a key factor. “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 everyone is super happy that we finally delivered a result like this.”

The win in Sepang was also the first for Red Bull’s new power unit project, adding a technical dimension to the emotional occasion. Team-mate Isack Hadjar finished fifth in the same race, building on a strong double podium the pair secured at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix the previous weekend, where Verstappen and Hadjar crossed the line second and third respectively.

The result has lifted Verstappen to sixth in the drivers’ standings, where he sits level on 188 points with fifth-placed Lando Norris.