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Verstappen Wins First Race of 2026 Season in Malaysia
Confirmed
In Short: Verstappen, who started from pole position, took the lead after an early safety car period and maintained it until the end of the race.
Max Verstappen clinched his first victory of the 2026 Formula One season at the Bahrain Grand Prix, which was relocated to Malaysia due to heavy rain delays.
Verstappen, who started from pole position, took the lead after an early safety car period and maintained it until the end of the race.
Kimi Antonelli finished second, extending his championship lead over teammate George Russell, who retired with a suspected power unit issue.
Verstappen's recovery began on lap six when he overtook Russell and Antonelli, setting the stage for his eventual victory.
Antonelli expressed satisfaction with his second-place finish but acknowledged the team's struggles: 'Today was the maximum we could have done... On our side, a lot of work to do.'
Hamilton, who had been chasing Red Bull's Isack Hadjar, made a late move to secure third place, finishing behind Verstappen and Antonelli.
Russell's retirement marked his third DNF this season, following a battery failure at the Canadian Grand Prix and a collision at the Belgian Grand Prix.
Antonelli's senior race engineer, Peter 'Bono' Bonnington, praised the driver's performance: 'Well done, Kimi, P2 mate, we didn't have the fastest car today, but well done to get that.'
Russell expressed disappointment over his retirement: 'It's a real kick in the guts for George and the team.' He added, 'You've almost got to laugh. It's a disappointment. It's just so many times this season that it's happened.'
The race's chaotic scenes included a lengthy safety car period and a standing start due to heavy rain, delaying the start by an hour and 40 minutes.
Verstappen's victory marked Red Bull's first win with their own power unit since 2017, when the Sepang International Circuit last hosted a Grand Prix.
The race's dramatic conclusion highlighted the importance of reliability in the championship fight, with Russell's DNF potentially costing his team dearly in the remaining seven races.
What this adds
The race's relocation to Malaysia due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East added an unexpected twist to the season.
Verstappen's win was his first since 2017 at the Sepang International Circuit, emphasizing the circuit's significance in his career.
What's confirmed
- Verstappen was the last driver to win in Sepang in 2017 before it was taken off the calendar and the Dutchman, who had also taken pole, gave Red Bull a first victory with their own power unit despite an early setback when he lost the lead before turn one.
What's still developing
- “It’s a really nice one after the year that we’ve had and the progression that we’ve made. So I’m incredibly proud of everyone. It is super nice to win here,” said Verstappen.
- “Obviously, we had the wrong call at the beginning, which was so difficult and I could see everyone just pulling away,” Hamilton said.
- But Verstappen’s recovery began on lap six when he attacked Russell, overtaking the Briton by diving down the inside of turn four to set his sights on Antonelli.
- “We’ve been struggling a bit more than usual, but still really happy to come away with P2.” The last four laps were a straight shootout for podium places after a lengthy safety car period and that was when Hamilton, who had been chasing Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar for several laps, made his move.
- On his title chances, the Brit said: "I don't need to say that I think it's gone, or whatever, but it's extremely unlikely and that's the reality. I knew if I wanted to come back I needed luck on my side and, unfortunately, I've had a lot not on my side. A three-point loss today, being behind Kimi, turned into an 18-point loss. Of course, if the issue was on the other side it would have been an 18-point gain. It's a real shame, but that's just how it is."
- Antonelli finished second behind Max Verstappen and now leads the drivers' championship by 84 points ahead of Russell and now looks destined to claim the title after his team-mate's DNF.
- It's not the first time, so I'm pretty used to this feeling and these questions." On his title chances, the Brit said: "I don't need to say that I think it's gone, or whatever, but it's extremely unlikely and that's the reality.
- "You've almost got to laugh. It's a disappointment. It's just so many times this season that it's happened. It's a real shame, of course, but I'll keep on fighting, keep on trying to go. A solid race, not an amazing race, but a solid race, and then, yeah... It's not the first time, so I'm pretty used to this feeling and these questions."
- "Kimi scored a few more points than Lewis behind him. But I'm unhappy. Kimi did the job, but there's this overarching topic of the DNFs that could cost us dearly, also for the remaining seven races. The championship quickly turns around against you if you have a DNF, and that's why that cannot continue."
- But he had a slow getaway on intermediate tyres, allowing the Mercedes pair of Antonelli and Russell to pass him easily in the wet early conditions.
- Russell was part of a front-running battle in the early stages of the race and at one point was running a Mercedes 1-2 with Antonelli.
- Final classification and gaps have been cross-checked against the published Bahrain GP in Malaysia results.