Max Verstappen dismisses worries about the Malaysian heat: "After months of preparation, I couldn't care less!"

Verstappen remains the most recent grand prix victor at the Sepang International Circuit, although his memories of the venue have faded.

"Honestly, I walked into the paddock this morning and I had no clue where I was supposed to go! So yeah, it’s been a long time,” the four-time world champion chuckled.

"I always enjoyed competing here because I really liked the track layout. It wasn't very straightforward due to high degradation and the overall heat, making it quite uncomfortable to drive physically.

"There are great memories, but I had to reacquaint myself with this paddock. It’s been a bit too long!"

In 2026, the cars are somewhat less physically taxing with the emphasis on energy management, yet the race near Kuala Lumpur still poses challenges. The grand prix in nearby Singapore has always been grueling, but in Malaysia, the race occurs during the day.

Max Verstappen battling Lewis Hamilton in the 2017 Malaysian Grand Prix

This brings up the question of whether the drivers have undertaken any special preparations for Sepang’s unique return, but Verstappen dismissed that notion in his usual manner.

"I think I had four or five months of very intense preparation. Yeah, deep mental prep of not giving an F…!," Verstappen joked.

"So, yeah, just show up. It’s hot, but it’s also hot in Monaco, and it gets quite humid there as well; if you want it really hot, you could just hit the sauna or steam room. I do that sometimes. You need to be comfortable with the uncomfortable, but that’s the case for everyone. It’s hot, sweaty, and you'll need a few extra pairs of underwear, I guess! But just go with the flow."

In addition to the heat, the very abrasive asphalt in Malaysia also poses challenges. It not only leads to significant tyre wear but also raises concerns regarding energy management. Both recharge and deployment are closely tied to the level of grip a circuit offers, as Verstappen is aware.

"Here, the track roughness is very high, so you'll likely see considerable tyre degradation, which also heavily influences deployment. So, yeah, there are a few uncertainties on our side with these cars. We'll just have to wait and see what happens."

All these uncertainties could theoretically present Verstappen with an opportunity, although with Mercedes introducing an upgrade in Malaysia, he still considers Baku as Red Bull’s best shot at securing a race win in 2026.

"Yeah, probably. I mean, typically, when you bring an upgrade, you should be faster," he noted. "So, with them already at their current pace, it will likely be very challenging. But, yeah, every single weekend we’ll strive to do our best, and we’ll see where that leads us this weekend."

Red Bulls wants to build on the momentum of the team's double podium finish in Baku

The upgrade package introduced in Baku is beneficial, but it remains crucial for Red Bull to confirm its effectiveness at a circuit that is entirely different from the street track along the Caspian Sea.

"I think the components we added to the car in Baku worked well. But we also know that Baku has always been quite favorable for us," Verstappen commented. "It's quite unique with the 90-degree corners. There aren’t many high-speed corners there, so we need to be patient in the upcoming races to understand how our car will perform."

Beyond the potential for a win, this is also significant for next season, as Red Bull aims to contend for the ultimate prize once again. Verstappen, however, emphasizes that more substantial changes are still necessary, modifications that cannot be implemented on this year's car.

"It’s probably quite beneficial for us to experience all these different types of tracks because, for next year, we’ll likely learn a lot from these upcoming races regarding what we need and how we want to approach the car," he noted.

"We’re not competing for the championship anyway, so for us, it’s a considerable learning experience. But, of course, the last few weekends have already been much more promising than the start of the season."