Max Verstappen secured his first victory of the 2026 Formula 1 season at the Bahrain Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia on Sunday, following heavy rainfall. This victory marked Red Bull's first win with its power unit, while Kimi Antonelli, his championship rival, took a significant step towards his first world title.
Race Details and Weather Conditions
Verstappen, who started from pole position, managed to finish 2.3 seconds ahead of Antonelli despite a slow start. Lewis Hamilton from Ferrari also achieved a remarkable comeback to secure third place. The race was moved from Bahrain to Malaysia due to political unrest in the region and started over 90 minutes late due to heavy rain and technical issues.
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The race also marked the first time in Formula 1 history that significant wet conditions were experienced by the new generation of Formula 1 cars. These cars, introduced in 2026 under new technical regulations, had previously had little opportunity to assess their behavior in rainy conditions.
Championship Developments and Driver Performances
At the start of the race, both drivers fell behind the leading positions, with Antonelli and George Russell from Mercedes taking first and second places, respectively. Hamilton, a seven-time champion, along with his teammate Charles Leclerc and two McLaren drivers, opted to use soft tires while the track was wet, a decision that proved costly for them.
Verstappen gradually engaged in competition with the Mercedes drivers and, after a safety period, overtook Antonelli to take control of the race. His victory in this race was highly valuable, coming after his last win in Sepang in 2017, when the Malaysian Grand Prix was removed from the calendar.
Hamilton gradually climbed to higher positions during the race and ultimately managed to overtake the Red Bulls with three laps remaining after switching to soft tires, securing third place.
The decisive championship shift occurred when Russell, who was in third place, retired from the race five laps from the end due to the potential failure of the power unit. This allowed Antonelli to increase his championship lead from 66 to 84 points, likely delivering a significant blow to his teammate's championship aspirations.
Thus, Antonelli and Russell remain at the top of the championship standings, and the competition for the title will continue to be intense and exciting. The next race of the 2026 Formula 1 season will take place on October 12 at the Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore.
Read more: Max Verstappen Wins Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia · Max Verstappen Will Start from Pole Position at the Bahrain Grand Prix
