From "paper car" to pole position in Malaysia – What’s fueling the speed of Max Verstappen and Red Bull?
It has been less than a month since Max Verstappen secured sixth place at Monza, where he commented on a Red Bull car that felt "made of paper." While that remark specifically addressed the issue of "car degradation"—components that can wear down during a race—both Verstappen and team principal Laurent Mekies have indicated that this problem cannot be entirely rectified by 2026.
However, in terms of outright speed, notable advancements have been made since those challenging moments at Monza. Verstappen has reached the podium at every race weekend following his crash at Zandvoort, and he has now achieved his first pole position of the year in Malaysia.
This marks another positive development because, although Verstappen podiumed at Monza, Madrid, and Baku, Red Bull was never the standard to measure against during those weekends.
In contrast, the Milton Keynes-based team has clearly established itself as the benchmark at the Sepang International Circuit. Verstappen delivered impressive long runs on Friday, followed by a strong pole position the next day.
"I think the car has been in a good operating window all weekend," Verstappen shared with a select group of Dutch journalists in the paddock after qualifying.
"Could it be due to the heat here? It might be, but I believe we’ve made solid progress with the set-up over the last few weeks, along with the upgrades we've made to the car."
Verstappen believes Mercedes is merely experiencing an "off-weekend"
There are two aspects to consider regarding Saturday’s performance. Verstappen thinks that some teams—particularly Mercedes—are finding the heat more challenging than Red Bull, and additionally, the technical team under Pierre Waché has certainly enhanced the RB22.
Regarding the first point, Verstappen remains cautious about drawing definitive conclusions at this stage. He suggests that Saturday's outcome does not necessarily indicate that Mercedes’ long-anticipated upgrades aren’t effective.
"I think they typically struggle more at tracks where it’s very warm, so we’ll need to observe how their upgrades perform in the upcoming races."
Verstappen believes Mercedes is merely experiencing an off-weekend in the Malaysian heat
In broader terms, Verstappen still regards Mercedes as the standard.
"I think they generally remain very efficient across many areas. We just need to assess it on a race-by-race basis. Last weekend they were clearly quicker, and they have been throughout the season, just not this time. They’re having a bit of an off-weekend."
Increased confidence in the RB22 following Baku upgrade
Verstappen prefers to focus on his own team, and in that context, it is crucial that the Baku upgrade—the last major package of the year—has met internal expectations.
"It’s evident that with the modifications we’ve implemented, we’ve been able to extract much more performance from the car, and it's also more manageable to drive. That’s clearly a positive sign, both for this year and next. There are a few aspects we can’t modify anymore this season, so we aim to address those for next year, hoping to make even more progress in the right direction."
Apart from sheer speed, the Baku upgrade has also made both Red Bull drivers feel more at ease behind the wheel, as Verstappen acknowledges.
"It’s certainly gratifying when you have a car that aligns more closely with your expectations. At the season's start, there were weekends where turning the steering wheel led to unexpected results. Now, it feels more consistent again."
Verstappen states he can make more of a difference again after Red Bull's successful Baku upgrade
When questioned by Motorsport.com, Verstappen admits that this allows him to have a greater impact as an individual, though he believes a driver’s influence is still somewhat limited by regulatory constraints.
"That’s still a bit of a challenge. However, the better our car achieves the right balance again, the more I can push and maximize its potential."
Regarding his frustrations with regulations and energy management, it's important to note that this pole position doesn't alter that situation. "No! That’s unrelated to whether I’m first, sixth, or tenth. Those are completely distinct matters," Verstappen emphasized.
Is Red Bull's race pace sufficient for a first win of 2026?
One significant caveat is that the starting position is not everything this weekend. Pirelli highlighted on Friday that, due to the extremely rough surface and high degradation, success depends heavily on tire management. Nevertheless, Verstappen expresses confidence on that front as well.
"Personally, I’m confident in my performance. If others choose to make greater sacrifices [for the race], then good luck to them, but I’m prepared," said the four-time world champion.
"Ultimately, we need to make a solid start, which has proven to be quite challenging for us this year. After that, it’s a lengthy race concerning tires. My race pace appeared promising, but of course, we don't know what adjustments others have made since Friday, so we’ll have to wait and see."
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