Max Verstappen finally returned to the top step of the podium as he won a chaotic, rain-hit Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, securing his and Red Bull’s first victory of the 2026 F1 season. Kimi Antonelli finished second to strengthen his championship lead, while Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc produced impressive recoveries for Ferrari.
Key Highlights
- Max Verstappen claimed his first win of the 2026 season after converting pole position into victory.
- Kimi Antonelli finished second, extending his championship lead over George Russell to 84 points.
- Lewis Hamilton recovered from 17th to third after starting on slick tyres in difficult conditions.
- Charles Leclerc climbed back to fourth, completing a strong Ferrari double podium finish.
Verstappen Finally Gets His 2026 Victory
Verstappen entered the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia with his and Red Bull’s first pole position of the 2026 season, but the race immediately became complicated by heavy rain and slippery conditions.
The start was delayed before the initial procedure was suspended altogether after several drivers encountered problems during the formation lap. When the race eventually got under way, Verstappen initially lost out to both Mercedes drivers, with Antonelli taking the lead and Russell moving into second.
The Red Bull driver quickly settled into the conditions, however, and began working his way back through the Mercedes pair. A crucial moment came when Valtteri Bottas spun and triggered a Safety Car. The timing allowed the intermediate runners to switch to slick tyres, giving Verstappen and the other drivers who had chosen intermediates an important strategic advantage.
Verstappen eventually passed Antonelli for the lead after the restart and built a comfortable advantage. He remained in control through the later Virtual Safety Car and Safety Car periods before taking the chequered flag 2.307 seconds ahead of Antonelli. It marked Verstappen’s first victory of the 2026 campaign and Red Bull’s first win of the season.
“It’s a really nice one, after the year that we’ve had and the progression that we’ve made,” Verstappen said. “I’m incredibly proud of everyone, and it’s just super nice to win here.”
Antonelli Makes Another Big Championship Gain
While Verstappen celebrated at the front, Antonelli left Sepang with an even bigger reward in the championship battle. The Mercedes driver spent much of the race fighting for the lead and briefly lost P1 to Verstappen before reclaiming second from team mate Russell on Lap 21.
Antonelli ultimately had no answer for Verstappen’s pace, but second place was enough to give him another major championship boost. Russell had reduced Antonelli’s advantage to 66 points after winning in Azerbaijan.
However, Russell’s late retirement and Antonelli’s second-place finish increased the gap to 84 points with seven rounds remaining. For Antonelli, it was another crucial step in a championship campaign that is increasingly moving in his favour.
Hamilton Completes Stunning Ferrari Recovery
Hamilton produced one of the drives of the race after Ferrari’s decision to start him on slick tyres initially left him badly exposed. The seven-time World Champion dropped towards the back of the field and at one stage found himself as low as 17th.
Ferrari eventually committed to the gamble, leaving Hamilton to fight his way forward as conditions improved. He picked off a number of drivers during his recovery before closing in on Hadjar late in the race. Hamilton passed the Red Bull into Turn 1 after the final restart to move into third, completing an impressive comeback and securing 15 points for Ferrari.
His team mate Leclerc also recovered strongly after starting on slicks and suffering front-wing damage following contact with Nico Hulkenberg. Leclerc eventually followed Hamilton past Hadjar to take fourth, giving Ferrari two cars inside the top four.
Strong Results for Hadjar, Piastri and Alonso
Isack Hadjar also enjoyed a strong afternoon despite slipping from third to fifth in the closing stages. The Red Bull driver had started the race from a difficult position after receiving a five-place grid penalty for using extra power unit elements, but he fought his way into contention and spent much of the race near the front.
Oscar Piastri finished sixth for McLaren, followed by Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson in seventh. Fernando Alonso claimed eighth for Aston Martin, providing the team with a morale-boosting result. Lando Norris recovered from a late mistake to finish ninth, while Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad completed the top 10.
The final classification saw Verstappen lead Antonelli, Hamilton, Leclerc and Hadjar, with Piastri, Lawson, Alonso, Norris and Lindblad rounding out the points-paying positions.
Photo Credits: formula1.com
