From “paper car” to pole – What changed for Verstappen and Red Bull?

Max Verstappen claimed his first pole position of the 2026 season for Red Bull at Sepang. The achievement marks a major step forward since Monza, where Verstappen had previously criticized the car's durability by comparing it to being made of paper. The driver credited recent setup adjustments, high ambient heat, and the effective introduction of Red Bull's Baku upgrade package for the turnaround.

Verstappen also suggested that rivals Mercedes were experiencing an off-weekend in the hot conditions, though he still considers them the general benchmark. Despite persistent car degradation concerns that cannot be fully fixed this season, Verstappen expressed confidence in his race pace and tyre management ahead of Sunday's Grand Prix.