'Incredible' Red Bull upgrade enlivens F1 in Malaysia

Max Verstappen secured his first pole position of 2026 at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia, marking an impressive turnaround for the Red Bull driver. Despite finishing nearly 0.3 seconds behind Lewis Hamilton in qualifying, the Dutchman's performance throughout the weekend has reignited memories of their intense title battle five years ago.

Verstappen, who expressed confidence in the Red Bull upgrade, now leads the front row, along with Hamilton. Red Bull's resurgence is particularly notable given their slow start to the year, with the car averaging more than 0.5 seconds per lap slower than Mercedes. The team believes the recent upgrade, focusing on a new floor, has significantly improved their performance.

Verstappen's teammate, Isaac Hadjar, also praised the car's transformation after returning from a three-race absence. While Verstappen faces competition from Hamilton, team-mate Kimi Antonelli and the question of whether Mercedes' new aerodynamic upgrade will deliver the expected performance, it's clear that the upcoming race in Malaysia will be a fierce battle for supremacy.