Max Verstappen recently reflected on his second career Formula 1 victory at the 2017 Malaysian Grand Prix, revealing he was significantly unwell throughout the race weekend. He secured the win at the Sepang International Circuit on October 1, 2017, a day after his 20th birthday.
The Red Bull Racing driver described suffering from flu-like symptoms, including a blocked nose, headache, and muscle pain. This physical struggle made the race ‘much tougher than normal,’ he stated.
Verstappen’s victory at Sepang was achieved by overtaking then three-time champion Lewis Hamilton on lap four. He maintained the lead for the remainder of the 56-lap race, ultimately crossing the finish line comfortably ahead.
Hamilton, driving for Mercedes, had started from pole position but could not match Verstappen’s pace during the race. Verstappen opened an eight-second gap, which he sustained, securing a 12.7-second lead over Hamilton by the chequered flag.
Daniel Ricciardo, Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate, completed the podium in third place, marking a strong performance for the team. Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, who started last due to an engine issue in qualifying, impressively recovered to finish fourth.
Kimi Räikkönen, also with Ferrari, was forced to retire from the race due to a power unit problem before the start, impacting Ferrari’s points potential. The 2017 Malaysian Grand Prix was the final running of the event at the Sepang International Circuit.
Verstappen’s post-race comments highlighted the extent of his illness. He mentioned difficulty sleeping the night before the race, which further compounded his physical challenges. Despite the victory, he felt unusually tired.
‘I was not feeling well at the start of the race,’ Verstappen stated, adding that his condition worsened as the Grand Prix progressed. He also noted that he took it easy in the days following the win to recover.
The Dutchman later described the Malaysian win as ‘nicer than the first one,’ despite his compromised physical state. This victory provided a significant boost in a 2017 season that had seen him endure seven retirements in the first 14 races.
