Max Verstappen won the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Bahrein at the Sepang International Circuit, securing his first victory of the season and the inaugural win for a Red Bull Ford Powertrains power unit. Editorial sources at gp33.nl reported that internal Red Bull Racing team sources confirmed the four-time world champion claimed pole position and dominated the race after identifying a significantly stronger car from the first practice session onward. This victory follows a difficult start to the season where the team faced setup issues, a nervous handling profile, and a car weighing 10 to 13 kilograms over the minimum limit.
Technical Updates Transform the Red Bull RB22
The performance shift stems from a refined aerodynamic package introduced initially in Baku and perfected for the Sepang weekend. According to calculations from Autoracer cited by gp33.nl, the revised floor geometry and sidepod configurations gained the RB22 approximately three and a half tenths of a second per lap. RacingNews365 noted that the FIA’s official upgrade list for Malaysia included a new scuff or small flap on the floor board designed to generate local downforce while maintaining airflow stability behind the front tires. Pierre Waché observed after Friday’s practice sessions that the car’s performance exceeded initial expectations across all corner types and straightaways, overcoming earlier struggles with long, high-speed corners on the Sepang layout. The team had previously suspected the RB22 would struggle with the long, fast turns in Malaysia, which had been a major weakness earlier in the year.
Steering Modifications Contrast with Rival Developments
Technical adjustments inside the garage also played a role in recent weekends. Speaking on the High Performance Racing podcast reported by F1maximaal, former Alpine team principal Otmar Szafnauer and engineer Rob Smedley detailed that Red Bull fitted a new steering gear ratio—adjusting the steering rack speed—which transformed steering input feel. Szafnauer noted that a similar adjustment was initially tested on Isack Hadjar’s car in Baku before Verstappen adopted the setup. In Baku, Hadjar qualified fourth while Verstappen started eighth due to a technical problem on the straights, though Verstappen later fought to a second-place finish after a photo finish with George Russell. Meanwhile, rival constructors pursued separate upgrade paths. RacingNews365 reported that Mercedes brought a new floor, sidepods, and rear suspension to Sepang, while Ferrari implemented a new diffuser and McLaren added cooling louvers to the engine cover for reliability.
Development Path of the RB22
The turnaround for the Milton Keynes-based team began in Miami, following the installation of new sidepods in Suzuka. To increase local downforce and ensure stability under varying ride heights, Red Bull significantly altered the diffuser and floor geometry, combining these with revised sidepod shapes and refined engine cover cooling slots. While the factory team has now largely completed major updates for the RB22 to focus on next season, Verstappen continues to benefit from the optimized platform.
Frequently Asked Questions About Verstappen’s Sepang Victory
How much lap time did Red Bull’s upgrade package add to the RB22?
Calculations from Autoracer cited by gp33.nl indicate that the revised floor and associated aerodynamic updates gained the Red Bull RB22 approximately three and a half tenths of a second per lap.
What power unit does Max Verstappen’s Red Bull use this season?
Max Verstappen drives with a Red Bull Ford Powertrains motor, which secured its first Formula 1 Grand Prix victory at Sepang, as reported by gp33.nl.
What specific changes did the FIA note on Red Bull’s car for Malaysia?
RacingNews365 reported that the FIA’s pre-event upgrade list featured a new small profile or schot added to the top of the existing floor board geometry to generate local downforce and stabilize airflow behind the front tires.
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