Max Verstappen: "It was a great result and very strong race for the team in Baku. We had good pace and saw a lot of improvements, so we are hoping to continue this positive performance into this week too.

"Malaysia is an exciting track to drive and it is good to be back and have it on the calendar again. Of course, the last time we raced here was in 2017, when I won my second Grand Prix, so there are a lot of good memories and we can now see how these generation of cars will fare on this track. The circuit is quite challenging but nice to drive, with a mix of high-speed straights and sharp hairpins and the weather looks quite unpredictable too, so it will be interesting to see what the week will bring."

Isack Hadjar: "Baku was a really positive weekend for us. Coming back after missing three races and scoring my second podium with the team was a great feeling, and having both cars on the podium was a huge step for everyone. Sepang looks like a really cool circuit, but it's my first time racing there, so the focus is just to build up through the weekend and take it step by step like we did in Baku. The upgrades worked well there, which was positive, but Sepang has a different track layout, so we'll have to see where we stand."

Fresh from a double podium in Baku, we're heading back to a circuit where the team did the same the last time Formula One raced there. In 2017, Max celebrated his 20th birthday weekend with victory at Sepang, taking the lead from Lewis Hamilton on lap four before controlling the race to the flag. Daniel Ricciardo joined him on the podium in third after holding off a late charge from Sebastian Vettel, securing another strong result for the team in Malaysia. Nine years later, we're heading back.

Stats & Facts

• Oracle Red Bull Racing secured victories at the last two Formula 1 races hosted at the Sepang circuit, with Max's 2017 win following on from Daniel in the 2016 race.

• Red Bull have finished 1-2 in Sepang on three previous occasions. Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber were 1-2 in the 2010 and 2013 races, while Daniel and Max finished 1-2 at Sepang in 2016.

• Both Isack (September 28) and Max (September 30) celebrated birthdays this week. Max's win at Sepang in 2017 came the day after his 20th birthday, and was his second career victory.

• Oracle Red Bull Racing's double podium last week in Baku was the first time two ORBR drivers stood on the podium together since Shanghai 2024.

• Max came within 0.196s of taking victory in Baku, the closest race-winning margin since Rubens Barrichello beat Michael Schumacher by 0.011s at the 2002 US GP.