Verstappen aims for first Formula 1 win of the season — TimesLIVE

In South Africa, at the Sepang circuit, four-time Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen said he wants to secure at least one victory before the end of the season. After 15 rounds, the 29-year-old Red Bull driver is sixth in the drivers' standings and has not yet won a race this year.

As TimesLIVE reports, Verstappen has finished on the podium seven times this season. In the last two races, in Madrid and Baku, he took second place.

Mercedes advantage

Red Bull has outscored Ferrari and McLaren over the past three races. At the same time, Verstappen noted that Mercedes has been the fastest for most of the season and holds a convincing lead in the drivers' and constructors' championships.

According to the Dutchman, Red Bull regularly finishes on the podium, but his goal remains a victory. He also said that the team is close to success.

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Return to Sepang

Sepang is hosting a Formula 1 race for the first time in nine years after the Bahrain Grand Prix was moved due to the conflict in the Middle East. Verstappen is one of the few drivers who have raced at this circuit before, and its most recent winner: he claimed his second career victory there.

Verstappen said that after a break of almost a decade, he was initially disoriented in the paddock. He positively assessed the circuit layout while mentioning the heat and high tyre degradation, which make the sessions physically demanding.

The driver described the car upgrades introduced in Baku as promising, but cautioned that the street circuit there traditionally suits Red Bull. According to him, the upcoming races on different types of circuits will help the team better understand what next season's car should be like. A decision on holding the final two rounds in Qatar and Abu Dhabi has not yet been made; Verstappen said he trusts Formula 1 and the FIA on this matter.