Red-hot resolve

Ruling the roost: Red Bull’s Max Verstappen (second from left) on the podium with Mercedes’ runner-up Kimi Antonelli (left) and Ferrari’s third-placed Lewis Hamilton (right). — GLENN GUAN/The Star

SEPANG: Max Verstappen was left surprised after clinching his first win this season following a ‘’horrendous’’ start at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.

The Dutchman secured his 72nd race win as a Red Bull driver at the Sepang International Circuit yesterday, giving him a back-to-back win in Malaysia after he won the last race held here in 2017.