Max Verstappen Wins Delayed Bahrain Grand Prix In Malaysia

Max Verstappen returned to winning ways with a commanding victory at a chaotic Bahrain Grand Prix held in Malaysia, ending Red Bull’s wait for a 2026 triumph.

The race began in extraordinary circumstances after torrential rain and technical failures delayed the start by more than 90 minutes. Once underway, Verstappen seized control, while the championship picture shifted dramatically behind him.

The Dutchman’s win came as Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli finished second, extending his title lead after George Russell retired late with a power‑unit failure.

Max Verstappen dominates in Malaysia as chaos unfolds

Verstappen’s afternoon began with setbacks as he lost ground off the line, but once conditions stabilised he quickly found rhythm. After repassing Russell early on, he pressured Antonelli until a safety car allowed the leaders to switch to slick tyres. On the restart, Verstappen swept past both Mercedes drivers and never looked back, building a comfortable margin that remained intact through a late four‑lap sprint to the finish.

His victory marked Red Bull’s first Formula 1 success with their new in‑house power unit, a milestone achieved on a day when several teams struggled with software issues triggered by wet‑weather energy settings.

Behind Verstappen, Antonelli salvaged crucial points after a difficult weekend, while Russell’s retirement - just before the final restart - dealt a heavy blow to his fading title hopes. Fernando Alonso secured a rare points finish for Aston Martin, continuing to upset the odds.

Hamilton’s remarkable recovery and a race overshadowed by technical drama

Lewis Hamilton produced one of the drives of the day. A risky decision to start on slick tyres left him nearly a minute behind the leaders, but he stayed out during the early safety car and carved through the field once conditions improved. After switching to soft tyres late on, he overtook Isack Hadjar to claim a superb third place.

Further back, Charles Leclerc finished fourth, Oscar Piastri took sixth, and Liam Lawson impressed again for Racing Bulls. The race also raised questions about FIA procedures after officials were left scrambling to interpret rules not designed for such scenarios.