Max looking forward to Sepang: 'We are close'

Published on 01 October 2026 by Stefan Meens

Ahead of Formula 1's return to the Sepang International Circuit, Max Verstappen is excited to be back in Malaysia. "I’ve always enjoyed racing here. It’s never straightforward because the track surface is very rough meaning the tyre degradation is high. That also has an effect on the power unit deployment. In general, it’s also pretty hot around here. There are several question marks, so we’ll have to wait and see, but I have great memories.”

Having finished on the podium in recent races, Max is motivated to keep this run going. “We really have tried our best and we’ve been scoring a lot of podiums, but I want to win, that’s why I am here. We’re close and I really want to win at least one race this year.”

Max added: “The updates worked well in Baku, but we also know that’s a track that works for us, so it’s good to see how it works on different types of tracks so we can learn more about the car.”

The Malaysian Grand Prix has often offered a variety of weather conditions, including heavy rain. This year’s cars have had very little running in the wet. “I did drive a few laps in the wet but it was slippery because it was very cold. It’s a lot warmer so the rain tyres should work a lot better. But it can be very tricky on a wet track, especially in these cars.”