How Red Bull cured weaknesses to give Verstappen his first 2026 victory

Max Verstappen secured his first victory of the 2026 Formula 1 season at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. This win was facilitated by Red Bull Racing's significant upgrades to the RB22, which were introduced about ten days prior to the race in Baku.

Despite a disappointing qualifying session where Verstappen started in eighth place due to engine troubles and yellow flags, the team's upgrades proved effective during the race. The enhancements included a new floor body, diffuser, sidepods, cooling louvres, mirrors, and a halo fairing, which collectively contributed to Verstappen's comfortable win.