Max Verstappen secured his first victory of the 2026 Formula 1 season at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. The Red Bull driver converted his pole position into a win at the Sepang International Circuit on Sunday, October 4.
The race, relocated due to the Iran war, saw significant delays and challenging conditions. Heavy rain postponed the start by over 90 minutes, and the procedure was suspended again during the formation lap due to reported software issues in several cars.
Verstappen’s win marks a crucial moment, averting what threatened to be his first winless season since his rookie year in 2015. This victory also represents the maiden win for Red Bull Powertrains as an engine supplier.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, the current F1 championship leader, finished second for Mercedes. He had qualified fourth-fastest but started third on the grid due to a five-place penalty for Verstappen’s teammate, Isack Hadjar.
Antonelli’s second-place finish significantly extends his lead in the drivers’ championship. This was largely aided by the retirement of his Mercedes teammate and closest title challenger, George Russell.
Russell, who started seventh, pulled over with a suspected power unit problem late in the race. Mercedes communicated to Antonelli that Russell’s power unit appeared to have failed.
The race featured a safety car deployment on lap 10 after Valtteri Bottas drove into the gravel. Verstappen initially lost places at the start but regained the lead after the safety car restart, passing Antonelli in a side-by-side battle.
Lewis Hamilton, driving for Ferrari, secured the final podium position, finishing third. Hamilton made an inspired comeback after a tyre gamble by Ferrari early in the race and passed Hadjar for the position.
Mercedes had introduced a substantial upgrade package for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, anticipating a performance boost. However, the team struggled in qualifying, with Antonelli half a second off pole and Russell eighth.
Antonelli acknowledged Verstappen’s pace after qualifying, stating that the Dutchman was ‘too quick’ for him to challenge for pole position. Verstappen had secured his first pole of the 2026 season at Sepang.
The Sepang International Circuit is known for its abrasive track surface and the potential for sudden tropical downpours, both of which were factors during the race weekend.
Verstappen’s victory marks his third win at the Bahrain Grand Prix and his second at the Sepang circuit, where he previously won the Malaysian Grand Prix in 2017.
