Max Verstappen ended his winless streak with a commanding performance at Sepang, taking pole and the victory in wet conditions that shuffled the pack and opened overtaking opportunities. The Dutchman's 49th career pole was the first of 2026 and marked the first time a non-Mercedes-powered car led the grid this season — a symbolic crack in the Silver Arrows' power unit dominance. Red Bull badly needed the result after a difficult start to the year, and Verstappen delivered with the kind of pace he showed from Friday practice onward. McLaren stumbled on tyre strategy, leaving Piastri sixth and the team searching for answers. Russell's DNF compounded Mercedes' frustration. For Verstappen and Red Bull, the win doesn't just reset the narrative — it signals they've found the setup window that eluded them in the opening rounds.
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