Max Verstappen claimed his first victory of the season in a rain-affected Bahrain Grand Prix held at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia on Sunday. The race, delayed by over 90 minutes due to heavy rain and challenging track conditions, was marked by unpredictable weather and strategic tire choices.
Starting from pole position, Verstappen initially lost the lead at the start but quickly recovered, overtaking Mercedes driver George Russell by lap six and eventually passing Kimi Antonelli for the lead shortly after a safety car period on lap 10. Verstappen managed to maintain his advantage despite pressure from Antonelli and set fastest laps, helping Red Bull secure their first win powered by their own engine. Reflecting on the win, Verstappen praised his team’s efforts and progress over the season.
Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli finished second, extending his lead in the championship to 84 points ahead of teammate George Russell. Antonelli took the lead at the start and held strong until Verstappen regained control but remained competitive throughout the race. Antonelli acknowledged ongoing challenges with the car but expressed satisfaction with securing second place.
George Russell had been running third but was forced to retire with five laps remaining due to a suspected power unit failure. The incident came as a blow to Mercedes, denying Russell valuable points in the tightening championship fight.
Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton recovered from a difficult start to finish third. Hamilton’s strategy to switch early from intermediate to slick tires on a drying track initially backfired, dropping him from second to 18th place. However, he remained committed to the tire choice, gradually climbing through the field aided by well-timed safety car periods and effective pit stops. Hamilton overtook Red Bull’s Isaack Hadjar in the closing laps to secure a podium spot, calling the result a “stunning recovery” given the circumstances.
Hamilton’s teammate, Charles Leclerc, finished fourth after a difficult early race but strong late-race pace. Leclerc commented that the Ferraris were outmatched by the speed of Red Bull and Mercedes but salvaged a solid result given the disrupted race conditions.
Red Bull’s Isaack Hadjar finished fifth, while McLaren’s Oscar Piastri took sixth. Aston Martin delivered their best finish of the season with Fernando Alonso placing eighth. The race featured multiple safety car deployments, including one triggered by a spin involving Valtteri Bottas and another caused by Alex Albon’s stricken Williams.
Sunday’s event marked the first wet race of the 2026 season, testing the performance of the new cars under rain conditions that were absent during practice and qualifying. Tire strategies and adapting to evolving track grip were pivotal, contributing to the race’s chaotic and unpredictable nature.