Max Verstappen Reflects on Father Jos's Reaction After Milestone Victory in Sepang

Max Verstappen has shared his thoughts on the emotional reaction of his father, Jos Verstappen, after securing his first grand prix win of the 2026 season. Speaking during the post-race press conference following the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, the Dutchman opened up about what the milestone meant for him and his family, while also marking the first win for Red Bull's power unit project.

Reflecting on his relationship with his father, Verstappen noted that both are deeply invested in Formula 1 and share a strong mutual understanding built over years of working together toward their goals. He explained that while his father does not attend every race, they talk extensively whenever he is present. Verstappen admitted that the start of the season was difficult for his father to watch and unpleasant for him to drive, but he praised the team for working relentlessly to fix their issues.

Verstappen highlighted the strong team spirit and alignment within Red Bull Racing, expressing his enjoyment in working with the team. In the chaotic race at Sepang, his teammate Isack Hadjar finished fifth. This came after a strong double podium for the team at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix last weekend, where Verstappen finished second and Hadjar third.

Following his win in Sepang, Verstappen moved up to sixth in the drivers' standings. He is currently level on 188 points with fifth-placed Lando Norris.