Max Verstappen Secures Red Bull's First Win of 2026 at Rain-Delayed Bahrain GP in Malaysia

A chaotic and rain-delayed Bahrain Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit concluded with Max Verstappen delivering Red Bull's first victory of the 2026 season on Sunday. Kimi Antonelli tightened his grip on the drivers' championship by finishing second, while his Mercedes teammate George Russell suffered a late engine failure with just five laps remaining, effectively ending the Briton's title hopes. Antonelli now holds an 84-point lead over Russell with seven races remaining following a grand prix delayed by over 90 minutes due to torrential rain and subsequent grid order confusion.

The race also featured two safety car periods triggered by retirements from Valtteri Bottas and Alex Albon. The event had been rescheduled from April and relocated to Malaysia due to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. Verstappen, who was the last driver to win at Sepang in 2017 before the venue was removed from the calendar, secured pole position and overcame an early setback when he lost the lead before Turn 1. The four-time world champion fought back to claim his first victory since the Abu Dhabi GP last season, crossing the finish line less than two and a half seconds ahead of Antonelli. Lewis Hamilton staged a remarkable recovery from an 18th-place start to claim third, followed by his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc in fourth.

Red Bull's Isack Hadjar slipped from a podium position in the closing laps to finish fifth, with Oscar Piastri in sixth, Liam Lawson of Racing Bulls in seventh, and Aston Martin driver Fernando Norris taking eighth. Reflecting on the win, 29-year-old Verstappen said, "It is a really nice one after the year that we had and the progression that we have made. I am incredibly proud of everyone and it is super nice to win here." Antonelli expressed satisfaction with his performance, stating, "I think that was the maximum we could have done... still really happy to come away with P2." Hamilton, meanwhile, celebrated a hard-fought podium after recovering from an initial incorrect tire choice, praising the electric atmosphere generated by the fans at Sepang.