10/01/26 09:38:00
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10/01 03:35 CDT Max Verstappen sets a target of one race victory to avoid a
first winless F1 season since 2015
Max Verstappen sets a target of one race victory to avoid a first winless F1
season since 2015
SEPANG, Malaysia (AP) --- Max Verstappen has set himself a target of winning
one race in what's left of the 2026 Formula 1 season, after missing out by less
than two tenths of a second at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Verstappen arrives at F1's first race in Malaysia since 2017 with the prospect
looming of a first winless season since his rookie year in 2015 as Red Bull
struggles to keep up with Mercedes at the front despite recent improvements.
"We are scoring quite a few podiums now but I want to win. That's what I'm here
for and I'm getting close, but I want to at least win one race this year. So I
hope we can do it at some point," Verstappen said Thursday ahead of this week's
race, which is branded as the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.
"We're anyway not fighting for the championship, so for us it's a big learning
curve, but the last few weekends have been a lot better (than) at the start of
the season."
Verstappen's desperate charge against George Russell on the final straight in
Baku on Saturday ended in his fourth runner-up finish in the last eight races.
He's sixth in the standings with barely half of leader Kimi Antonelli's points
tally.
Exactly how many races are left in 2026 for Verstappen to chase an elusive win
remains unclear given the uncertainty over the final two scheduled races in
Qatar and Abu Dhabi. Eight are left on the schedule including those races, but
if they can't go ahead, F1 could opt for one replacement event in Italy.
Asked which tracks might suit his chances best, Verstappen said: "You don't
really know because it also depends on what (upgrades) other people are
bringing constantly. I don't really care to be honest. As long as I win one
that would be nice."
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