Max Verstappen won the 2026 Bahrain Grand Prix at Malaysia’s Sepang International Circuit on October 4, claiming his first Formula One victory of the season in a race disrupted by heavy rain.
The start was delayed by more than 90 minutes as teams waited for conditions to improve. The race eventually began on intermediate tyres, with changing track conditions forcing teams to make strategic decisions about when to switch to slicks.
Verstappen started from pole position but lost places to Mercedes drivers Kimi Antonelli and George Russell during the opening exchanges. He recovered the lead as the race developed, using his pace and tyre strategy to move ahead of his rivals.
Antonelli finished second, extending his lead in the drivers’ championship. Russell had been competing near the front before retiring five laps from the finish with a suspected power-unit problem.
Lewis Hamilton completed the podium for Ferrari after recovering from an early setback that dropped him down the field. His team-mate Charles Leclerc finished fourth, followed by Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri.
The start was suspended again after several cars, including Verstappen’s and Hamilton’s, suffered apparent software problems on the formation lap. Safety-car periods and differing tyre strategies added to the uncertainty in the wet conditions.
The Bahrain Grand Prix was held in Malaysia after the original April race was cancelled over the security situation in the Middle East. The unusual venue did not alter the event’s official name.
Verstappen’s victory gave Red Bull its first win of the 2026 season. Antonelli’s second-place finish strengthened his championship position, while Russell’s late retirement cost Mercedes a potential result from both cars.
