Verstappen wary of tyre wear as he eyes first F1 win of season

Max Verstappen, a four-time Formula One champion, expressed his desire to secure at least one victory this season as he finds himself in the sixth position of the championship standings after 15 races. Despite dominating the sport in recent years, Verstappen has only managed seven podium finishes this year and is still seeking that first win, coming close with second-place results in his last two races in Madrid and Baku.

The Dutch driver is one of a few who have competed at Sepang, hosting a Formula One race for the first time in nine years due to the conflict in the Middle East. Red Bull has outperformed Ferrari and McLaren in the past three races, but Verstappen acknowledged that this advantage was minimal compared to Mercedes, who hold a substantial lead in both the drivers' and constructors' championships.

"We're not outscoring Mercedes," the 29-year-old admitted. "They're the ones driving faster, at least they were for most of this season." Verstappen continued to emphasize his determination to win at least one race this year, stating, "I'm trying everything I can. We are scoring quite a few podiums now, but I want to win. That's what I'm here for, and I'm getting close.

I want to at least win one race this year." The Belgian Grand Prix marks the last time Verstappen triumphed at Sepang during his second career victory, but he admitted to feeling disoriented upon his return to the circuit after nearly a decade. "I walked into the paddock and had no idea where I had to go," Verstappen told reporters on Thursday.

"It's been a long time since I was here." Despite the challenges, Verstappen praised the car upgrades introduced in Baku, which showed promise. However, he cautioned that the street circuit has historically favored Red Bull's characteristics, and the team must wait to evaluate the car's performance at upcoming races. Verstappen expressed optimism about the coming races, stating that this would serve as a significant learning curve for the team as they prepare for the next season.

As the final two rounds in Qatar and Abu Dhabi remain undecided, Verstappen expressed trust in Formula One and the FIA to make the appropriate decision. "I love going there, but of course, it has to be on the right terms," the champion declared. "I trust that F1 and the FIA will make the right call because they have more information than we do."