Max Verstappen secured his first victory of the 2026 Formula 1 season today at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. The Red Bull driver navigated a chaotic race at the Sepang International Circuit to claim a significant milestone for Red Bull Ford Powertrains.
This win marks the debut triumph for Red Bull Ford Powertrains, highlighting their entry as a power unit manufacturer in Formula 1. Ford’s return to the sport after more than two decades culminates in this success.
The race itself was heavily impacted by adverse weather conditions. Heavy rain led to a 40-minute delay before the scheduled start.
Further complications arose during the formation lap, with power unit software glitches affecting several cars. This prompted a red flag and an additional 53-minute suspension, delaying the start by over 90 minutes.
Starting from pole position, Verstappen initially lost the lead to Mercedes drivers Kimi Antonelli and George Russell. He then executed a strategic recovery, making a crucial decision on intermediate tyres.
Verstappen battled Antonelli for control of the race, eventually regaining the lead. A late safety car period added further tension, but Verstappen maintained his position.
Kimi Antonelli finished second for Mercedes, extending his lead in the Drivers’ Championship. Lewis Hamilton completed the podium in third for Ferrari.
George Russell’s title aspirations suffered a setback with a late retirement under the safety car due to a suspected power unit issue. This significantly boosted Antonelli’s championship advantage.
Verstappen expressed pride in the team’s progression, stating, ‘To win our first race in our first year with our own power unit is pretty impressive.’
‘It was very hectic with a lot of different things at the start – no power, so you have to wait for the power to kick in. But then we made the right call with the intermediates, and after that, step by step, we moved our way forward.’
Red Bull’s second driver, Isack Hadjar, finished fifth, contributing to the team’s constructors’ points haul. Oscar Piastri secured sixth for McLaren.
Liam Lawson finished seventh for Racing Bulls, followed by Fernando Alonso in eighth for Aston Martin. Lando Norris and Arvid Lindblad completed the top ten.
The Red Bull Ford Powertrains project, announced in 2023, involves developing a new hybrid power unit for the 2026 season. They supply engines to both Red Bull Racing and Racing Bulls.
This victory marks Verstappen’s 72nd career win and his second at Sepang, having previously won at the circuit in 2017.
