In one of the strangest and most eventful races of the 2026 Formula One season, Max Verstappen managed to conclude the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia in his favor.
The Red Bull driver, after a tough start and close competition with Mercedes cars, maintained focus in the changing weather conditions to achieve his first victory of the 2026 season.
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Adverse Conditions and Strategic Changes
This race, held today on Sunday, was accompanied by heavy rain and a delay of over 90 minutes at the start, but it turned into one of the most unpredictable competitions of the year. Verstappen started the race from pole position and ultimately defeated Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli by a margin of 2.307 seconds. Lewis Hamilton also finished third with Ferrari, securing the last podium spot.
The race was scheduled to start at 15:00 local time, but the heavy rainfall caused a significant amount of water to accumulate on the Sepang track. Race officials had to postpone the start for the safety of the drivers.
After the rain subsided, the cars entered the track for reconnaissance laps, but conditions remained very challenging. Even Isaac Hajar, who qualified third but started the race from eighth due to a penalty, lost control of his car during the early laps and went into the sandy area of the track.
Managing Conditions and Final Victory
The rapidly changing track conditions led teams to make different tire decisions. Some drivers entered the race on intermediate tires while others opted for slicks. These decisions played a crucial role in the final outcome.
As the race began, Kimi Antonelli, starting from third position, had a very good start and moved to the front. George Russell also managed to reach second place early on by overtaking several competitors, pushing Verstappen back to third.
However, Verstappen quickly found his pace. The Red Bull driver first passed Russell and then prepared to attack Antonelli. Subsequently, the deployment of the safety car after Valtteri Bottas exited the track created an important opportunity for a strategic change.
Ultimately, Verstappen completed the 55-lap race in a time of 1 hour, 47 minutes, and 14.808 seconds, celebrating his first victory of the 2026 season. This victory also marked Red Bull's first win of the current season.
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