Max Verstappen won the 2026 FIA Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia, converting pole position into victory despite a rain-delayed start, shifting track conditions and two Safety Car interventions to deliver Red Bull Ford Powertrains its first win of the season.
Verstappen crossed the line 2.307 seconds ahead of Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli after 55 laps, with Lewis Hamilton completing a recovery drive from the rear of the field to claim third for Ferrari. Charles Leclerc finished fourth, ahead of Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar in fifth.
A heavy downpour delayed the scheduled start by 40 minutes at the 5.543-kilometre circuit. A further 53-minute delay followed after throttle issues affected several cars, including Verstappen and Hamilton, during the formation lap. When racing finally began, nine drivers started on Intermediate tyres while the remainder gambled on slicks.
Antonelli and George Russell made strong starts to sweep past Verstappen into Turn 1, establishing a Mercedes one-two. Verstappen recovered quickly, passing Russell around the outside at Turn 4 on Lap 6 before closing on Antonelli. A Safety Car on Lap 9, triggered by Valtteri Bottas stopping in the gravel at Turn 13, allowed the Intermediate runners to switch to slicks. Red Bull fitted Verstappen with Soft tyres while Mercedes opted for Mediums — a strategic difference Verstappen exploited immediately at the restart, sweeping around the outside of Antonelli into Turn 1 to take the lead.
Hamilton, who had started on slicks and fallen toward the back of the field in the opening laps, climbed steadily through the order and reached fifth by Lap 22. A Virtual Safety Car on Lap 41, caused by Alex Albon stopping with a gearbox issue, prompted a further round of pit stops. Verstappen temporarily surrendered the lead to Antonelli before a full Safety Car brought the field together for a final restart.
The closing stages ended Russell’s race when his Mercedes stopped on the start/finish straight after 49 laps, handing Antonelli a significant boost in the Drivers’ Championship standings. Hamilton and Leclerc both passed Hadjar in the final laps to complete the podium positions behind Verstappen.
Hamilton finished 4.919 seconds behind the winner, with Leclerc a further 2.339 seconds back. Hadjar was fifth, followed by Oscar Piastri, Liam Lawson, Fernando Alonso, Lando Norris and rookie Arvid Lindblad, who secured the final points-paying position in 10th.
Antonelli’s runner-up finish extended his lead in the Drivers’ Championship over Russell, whose retirement dealt a significant blow to his title hopes. The result also marks a milestone for Red Bull Ford Powertrains in its first season of competition.