Red Bull hail 'untouchable' Max Verstappen after smashing vital milestone

Red Bull team principal has branded Max Verstappen "untouchable" after his imperious victory at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.

Verstappen's win, his first of the F1 season, was remarkable for the Dutchman and the Milton Keynes-based squad in a number of ways.

Not only does it mean the four-time drivers' champion has triumphed at least once every term since his second F1 campaign, in 2016, but Red Bull also has not endured a winless season since the year before, too.

However, making the occasion all the more significant is that it marks Red Bull-Ford's first victory as a power unit manufacturer, at just the sixteenth time of asking.

"[It is an] amazing feeling," Mekies told Viaplay after the race. "It felt like a long time since Abu Dhabi last year [when Verstappen last won], but in fact, it's only race 16.

"The first win with us being a full manufacturer — chassis, power unit; a first win with the Red Bull-Ford PowerTrains. Amazing.

"Amazing new start for the adventure. So it's great, and it's great to do it in that way, with such strong pace this weekend. And I think Max has been untouchable..."

Red Bull 'very close to the ultimate pace'

Verstappen was the class of the field all weekend at the Sepang International Circuit, and he earned his 72nd grand prix victory against a backdrop of chaos and confusion, caused by torrential rain and changeable conditions.

But, crucially, it was won on merit, something Red Bull and Mekies have been striving for of late.

The RB22 has showcased impressive race pace in recent rounds, and after finishing second in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix by just two-tenths of a second last weekend, the Red Bull boss felt victory was just on the horizon.

He added: "We will take it race by race, but we have shown in Baku we are very, very close to the ultimate pace here and now, so hopefully we can continue for a bit."