Max Verstappen secured victory at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia today, a race marked by significant delays and chaotic conditions. Fernando Alonso immediately voiced strong criticism regarding a decision by race control to reset the grid order following an aborted start. Alonso labelled the ruling as ‘100% unfair’.
The sixteenth round of the 2026 Formula 1 season at the Sepang International Circuit was heavily impacted by torrential rain. This led to a delayed start and a subsequent suspension of the initial formation lap due to a widespread ‘software bug’ affecting multiple cars.
Lewis Hamilton, starting second for Ferrari, was among the drivers severely affected. His car stalled on the formation lap in the wet conditions, causing him to drop to 16th position. The FIA’s decision to red-flag the event and reset the grid to its original order allowed Hamilton to restart from second place.
Alonso, who finished eighth for Aston Martin, expressed his dissatisfaction with the stewards’ decision. He stated, ‘I think I’ve had 50% DNF this year, and they never stopped the race for us.’
The two-time world champion further claimed, ‘It was 100% unfair that the grid order was reset to the original.’ This comment highlights a perceived inconsistency in how incidents are managed by the governing body.
The FIA later issued an apology for the software bug that caused the initial chaos and the lengthy delay. The race eventually commenced after a significant postponement, with Verstappen navigating the challenging conditions to claim his first win of the season.
Kimi Antonelli finished second for Mercedes, extending his lead in the drivers’ standings. Hamilton completed the podium in third for Ferrari, a notable recovery after his initial setback. Charles Leclerc secured fourth, with Isack Hadjar taking fifth.
Earlier in the weekend, Hamilton was also investigated by stewards for impeding Audi driver Gabriel Bortoleto during Free Practice 2. Hamilton received a warning, and Ferrari was fined €10,000 for not providing sufficient radio warnings.
Alonso has previously voiced concerns regarding the 2026 technical regulations, particularly the emphasis on energy management and active aerodynamics. He has suggested these rules diminish driver talent and impact the enjoyment of racing.
The Aston Martin driver’s eighth-place finish at Sepang marked the team’s best result of the season, more than doubling their points tally. This performance was attributed to the circuit layout suiting the car’s package, rather than significant upgrades.
