British journalist Will Buxton has declared Max Verstappen an ‘all-time great’ in Formula 1, asserting his place on the sport’s Mount Rushmore of legendary drivers. This statement followed Verstappen’s victory at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, held at the Sepang International Circuit on October 4, 2026.
The win marked Verstappen’s 72nd career Grand Prix victory, and significantly, his first of the current 2026 Formula 1 season. This achievement also saw him equal Michael Schumacher’s record of 72 Grand Prix wins with a single team.
Schumacher secured his 72 victories during his tenure with Ferrari. For comparison, Lewis Hamilton holds the record for the most Grand Prix wins with a single constructor, having achieved 84 victories with Mercedes.
Buxton’s comments were made during the ‘Up to Speed’ podcast, co-hosted by David Coulthard. The specific episode, titled ‘Has Max Verstappen become UNSTOPPABLE (again)?’, was released on October 5, 2026.
Coulthard initiated the discussion by highlighting the significance of Verstappen’s 72nd victory, noting its parallel with Schumacher’s record. He also pointed out the emotional connection to images of a young Verstappen with Schumacher.
“There’s something really significant I think about the fact that Max got his 72nd victory, equalling Schumacher on victories. There’s only Lewis Hamilton who has won more Grands Prix, but don’t you think there’s something really significant about his 72nd victory, the first for Red Bull Powertrains, and then the images of him as a little boy going up to Michael Schumacher. The comparison is there now. Okay, Michael had seven world titles, Max only has four, but what do you think? You know, there was always going to be that opinion of which driver is better. But it feels that Max is now, you know, on his journey to surpassing Michael.”
Buxton responded by emphasizing that Verstappen’s 72 victories were achieved with one team, Red Bull, drawing a direct parallel to Schumacher’s 72 wins with Ferrari. He acknowledged Schumacher’s earlier successes with Benetton.
The victory at Sepang was also a significant milestone for Red Bull Powertrains, marking their maiden Formula 1 win as a power unit manufacturer in their debut season. The power unit, designated DM01, delivered its first triumph after a challenging start to the 2026 season for the team.
Laurent Mekies, Team Principal, described the win as a ‘milestone moment’ for the team, acknowledging the extensive effort involved in the power unit project. Christian Horner, who initiated the Red Bull Powertrains venture, also celebrated the historic achievement, noting the journey from its inception to this first victory.
The Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia itself was a dramatic and rain-affected event. Verstappen, who started from pole position, initially lost ground to Mercedes drivers Kimi Antonelli and George Russell before recovering to secure the win.
Kimi Antonelli finished second in the race, extending his lead in the Drivers’ Championship. Lewis Hamilton completed the podium in third position. George Russell retired late in the race, impacting his championship aspirations.
This victory was Verstappen’s first after 15 rounds without a win in the 2026 season, and his eighth podium finish of the year. The result has been seen as a significant turning point for Red Bull after a period of development to improve the car’s performance.
