Verstappen Wins Chaotic Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia

Max Verstappen claimed his first victory of the 2026 season, finishing 2.307 seconds ahead of championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Lewis Hamilton completed the podium, moving from an early-race drop to third. The race featured a late-stage retirement for George Russell, whose power-unit failure with five laps remaining eliminated his chance of a points finish.

Verstappen beats Antonelli to win Bahrain GP in Malaysia

The Bahrain Grand Prix was relocated to the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia after the original Bahrain event was cancelled because of the ongoing war in the Middle East. The move marked Formula 1’s first race at Sepang since 2017.

Verstappen wins rain-delayed Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia

• Verstappen’s win gave him 188 championship points, tying him with Lando Norris for fifth place.

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• Antonelli’s second place extended his lead over Russell to 84 points (320 vs 236) with seven races remaining.

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• Hamilton’s third place added 214 points to his total, keeping him third in the drivers’ championship.

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• The race was delayed by more than 90 minutes after heavy rain and a suspended start caused by multiple cars losing power on the formation lap.

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“It’s a really nice one after the year we’ve had and the progression that we’ve made so I’m incredibly proud of everyone and it’s super nice to win here,” — Max Verstappen. “I think today was the maximum we could have done,” — Kimi Antonelli. “Big congratulations to Max, what a tough race that was,” — Lewis Hamilton. “You’ve got to laugh, so many times that it’s happened this year,” — George Russell.

Max Verstappen wins dramatic mixed weather Bahrain GP at Sepang

The exact cause of the formation-lap power loss remains unsettled. Some sources attribute it to a software glitch that disables the hybrid boost when the throttle is off too long, while a Mercedes test driver suggested the turbo spooling down and subsequent reliance on electrical power breached FIA regulations. No definitive diagnosis has been released by the FIA.

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Tyre degradation was widely reported as a decisive factor. Pirelli’s chief engineer warned of “high degradation” on the medium and soft compounds, whereas other analyses projected that the hard tyre could also suffer significant wear, leaving strategic choices ambiguous.

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Formula 1 will move to the Singapore Grand Prix at Marina Bay from October 11. The Malaysian event’s outcome sets the stage for the remaining races, with Antonelli’s championship lead now at 84 points and Verstappen seeking further victories in the new Red Bull-Ford power-unit era.

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