Verstappen relishes Sepang return nine years after memorable F1 win

Sepang, October 1 — After nine years since his memorable Formula One victory at the Sepang International Circuit, Red Bull's Max Verstappen is set to make a return to the venue for the upcoming Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix. The Dutch driver, who clinched his second career win at the 2017 Malaysian Grand Prix, admitted that the time away has made the track and associated surroundings unfamiliar. Verstappen told a press conference, "I walked into the paddock, and I had no idea where I had to go, so it’s been a long time."

Despite the unfamiliarity, Verstappen expressed his enjoyment of racing at Sepang, stating that the challenging nature of the circuit always made it a favorite for him. He explained, "I always enjoyed racing here because I think I really liked the track layout. It was not very straightforward because there was always high degradation, hot in general, so quite uncomfortable in a way, of course, to drive, physically."

The last driver to win an F1 race at Sepang was Verstappen himself, in 2017. His commanding drive for Red Bull Racing saw him complete the 5.543-kilometre circuit in 1:30:01.290, with Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton finishing second and Daniel Ricciardo of Red Bull taking the third position.