Verstappen Wins Dramatic Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia

• Max Verstappen claims his first victory of the 2026 F1 season at Sepang.

• Kimi Antonelli finished second, while Lewis Hamilton stages a remarkable comeback to take third.

• Heavy rain delayed the race by more than 90 minutes and created a difficult test for drivers and teams.

Max Verstappen claimed his first Formula 1 victory of the 2026 season on Sunday, winning a dramatic and rain-affected Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia at the Sepang International Circuit.
The Red Bull driver, who started from pole position, overcame a difficult opening phase before regaining the lead and controlling the race. He finished 2.307 seconds ahead of Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli, while Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton completed the podium after a remarkable recovery.

The race was heavily disrupted by torrential rain before the start. The scheduled start was delayed by more than 90 minutes as heavy showers swept across the Sepang circuit, producing challenging conditions for the drivers and forcing teams to carefully manage their tyre strategies.

Verstappen Ends Long Wait

Verstappen’s victory marked his first win of the 2026 season and gave Red Bull its first victory with its new Red Bull Ford Powertrains package.

The four-time world champion initially lost the lead after the start, with Antonelli and George Russell moving ahead in the wet conditions. Verstappen fought back and eventually retook the lead following an early Safety Car period.

He then built a comfortable advantage and held on through the changing conditions to take the chequered flag after 55 laps.

The victory was also significant because Verstappen was the last Formula 1 driver to win at Sepang before the Malaysian circuit left the F1 calendar in 2017. He has now won at the track on both of its most recent F1 appearances.

Hamilton Completes Remarkable Comeback

Hamilton produced one of the drives of the race, recovering from 18th position after an early tyre gamble to finish third.

The Ferrari driver struggled when the race began in wet conditions but benefited as the track dried and worked his way through the field. He eventually crossed the finish line behind Verstappen and Antonelli to secure a place on the podium.

Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc finished fourth, followed by Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate Isack Hadjar in fifth. Oscar Piastri was sixth, while Liam Lawson, Fernando Alonso, Lando Norris and Arvid Lindblad completed the top 10.

Russell’s Late Retirement

The race also brought disappointment for Mercedes’ George Russell, who had been running near the front before retiring with five laps remaining after what appeared to be a power-unit problem.

His retirement allowed Hamilton to move onto the podium and helped Antonelli strengthen his position at the top of the championship standings. Antonelli’s second-place finish extended his championship advantage over Russell to 84 points.

The 2026 event was held at Sepang instead of the Bahrain International Circuit, making it an unusual chapter in Formula 1 history.

The event was officially titled the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, with Bahrain retaining the identity of the race while Malaysia hosts the action at Sepang.

The return of Formula 1 to Sepang also marked the circuit’s first Grand Prix since 2017. The combination of tropical rain, a demanding track and changing tyre conditions produced a race that tested drivers and teams throughout the afternoon.