International media hails Verstappen: 'King of Sepang'

Corriere della Sera gives Verstappen a perfect 10 for his performance and speaks of a ‘sensational show’ by the Red Bull Racing driver. According to the Italian newspaper, after 301 days without a victory, the Dutchman made his rivals once again witness the best of his talent.

It doesn’t stop there. The paper also quotes the famous basketball coach Dan Peterson to describe Verstappen's performance: ‘Per me, numero uno,’ which translates to ‘For me, number one.’

La Gazzetta dello Sport also gives Verstappen the best possible grade. The Red Bull driver receives a 10 and is named by the Italian sports newspaper as the ‘King of Sepang.’ Gazzetta also highlighted a remarkable stat: since 2016, Verstappen has won at least one Grand Prix in every Formula 1 season.

Verstappen also receives plenty of praise from the UK. The BBC calls Verstappen’s race ‘dominant.’ After he outsmarted Kimi Antonelli at the restart, the Dutchman was, according to the British broadcaster, in 'total control.'

Even the late safety car couldn’t change that. During the final laps, Verstappen was, according to the BBC, once again ‘supreme.’

In Germany, Bild sees the same picture. ‘Max Verstappen dominated the race in Malaysia,’ they write. After Verstappen reclaimed the lead in the chaotic opening phase, he then drove to victory without ever being truly threatened, according to the Germans.

Spain’s AS goes even further. ‘Verstappen and Alonso save F1,’ the newspaper's headline reads, pointing to the chaos in Malaysia.

L’Équipe emphasizes how Verstappen retook control after the chaotic opening phase. The Dutchman initially lost positions to the Mercedes drivers, but mounted a comeback and claimed all 25 points. The French outlet also quotes Antonelli, who congratulated Verstappen and Red Bull on their ‘incredible weekend.’

Germany’s RTL perhaps sums up the afternoon most aptly. Thunderstorms, technical chaos, and a massive delay: it all happened on Sunday at Sepang. The German outlet's conclusion is clear: ‘Nothing could stop Verstappen on his way to his first victory’ of the season.

Austria’s Die Presse also bows to the four-time world champion. According to them, not even the software issue with the new Formula 1 cars could slow Verstappen down. After nearly ten months without a Grand Prix victory, the Dutchman ended his unwanted streak in Sepang in ‘triumphant’ fashion.