Spike Pierces Verstappen Left Front Tire in Pit Lane
The bizarre incident occurred after officials called Formula 1 drivers into the pit lane following a botched start procedure. As Verstappen cruised behind the Safety Car, his RB22 picked up the substantial piece of metal in the pit lane. Once he rolled the car to a halt, Verstappen radioed his engineer Gianpiero Lambiase.
“Er zit een spijker in mijn band,” Verstappen reported over the team radio. Lambiase responded instantly: “Linksvoor?” Verstappen confirmed, “Linksvoor.” Mechanics waiting with cooling equipment had already spotted the foreign object, which was far too large to miss.
F1 Regulations Allow Timely Tire Swap for Red Bull
Formula 1 rules permit tire changes during a neutralisation period, a regulatory detail that worked directly in Verstappen’s favor. While several rivals made the unfortunate choice to switch to soft slicks, the reigning world champion bolted on a fresh, spike-free set of intermediate tires. A subsequent neutralisation later allowed the field to transition safely from intermediates to slicks, while Red Bull also claimed the race’s fastest pit stop.
Red Bull Powertrains and Ford Secure First Grand Prix Win
The Sepang weekend carried deeper technical significance for the Milton Keynes squad. Motorsport reported that the victory represents the first Grand Prix win for a combustion engine manufactured entirely by Red Bull Powertrains, with engineering and battery support from Ford. Team principal Christian Horner and motorsport advisor Helmut Marko spearheaded the ambitious venture to build an in-house power unit following Honda’s initial withdrawal announcement in October 2020.
Post-Race Celebrations and Paddock Sprint in Sepang
The race weekend also featured high-energy celebrations in the paddock. According to F1 Maximaal, Red Bull Racing celebrated its milestone engine victory with champagne and Red Bull, prompting a member of the mechanical crew to chase Verstappen on foot through the paddock in a lively sprint.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Sepang Weekend
How did the metal spike get into Max Verstappen’s tire?
Verstappen picked up the large spike while driving slowly behind the Safety Car through the pit lane after race control neutralized the aborted start procedure.
Why didn’t the spike ruin Verstappen’s race?
Current Formula 1 regulations permit teams to change tires during a race neutralisation, allowing Red Bull to swap the damaged intermediate tire for a fresh, undamaged set before racing resumed.
What makes the Sepang 2026 victory historic for Red Bull?
The grand prix marked the very first Formula 1 race win for an in-house power unit constructed by Red Bull Powertrains, developed with technical and battery expertise from Ford.
