Max Verstappen claimed his first victory of the 2026 Formula 1 season in a dramatic Bahrain Grand Prix held at Sepang, ending a long wait for Red Bull. The race was heavily disrupted by torrential rain, with the start delayed by more than 90 minutes before the field finally got underway.
Verstappen initially lost the lead to the Mercedes duo of Kimi Antonelli and George Russell, but quickly recovered as conditions evolved. The Red Bull driver eventually retook control and managed the race brilliantly through changing track conditions and two Safety Car periods.
Antonelli finished second, 2.307 seconds behind, extending his championship advantage, while Lewis Hamilton produced an impressive recovery to take third for Ferrari. Charles Leclerc was fourth, followed by Isack Hadjar and Oscar Piastri.
The biggest championship setback came for George Russell, who suffered a technical failure and retired late in the race while running at the front. His DNF represents a major blow to his title hopes.
▶ YouTube